Rainbow death

Task 1

Based on your understanding of the selected poem, perform extensive web research and write a report on your blog detailing the conflict represented in the poem(s) of your choice. Bear in mind that this piece of background information will allow your blog audience to further understand the poem as well as your analysis of the poem in Task 2

So here is the poem

Title: Rainbow of Death

America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.

Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

By Hubert Wilson

Who is Hubert Wilson some may ask. Well, he is a US Vietnam war veteran.The Vietnam war was a Cold War military conflict which lasted from November 1, 1955 , to April 30, 1975, about 20 years.Hubert served in the USAF Security Service along with a dozen of school graduates.His team was sent to Shemya Island, an Agent Orange hot spot.About fifteen or more years ago, he started to have health problems such as headaches and limb pain. Soon, his central nervous system deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors. He suffered severe headaches and progressive limb pains. The doctors did not know how to cure him or know what he was suffering from. He guessed it was the contaminated water of Agent Orange he drank when he was at Shemya Island.The effects of toxins could take up to 20 to 30 years before they are shown.
( This is from a source which I am not too sure whether it is reliable)

Ok, by now some would be asking what is Agent Orange? Agent Orange is a herbicide developed for the military, which use it in tropical climates.The purpose of such a herbicide for the military was to was to clear the possible enemy cover and concealment in dense terrain by defoliating trees and shrubbery where the enemy could hide. This seemed to be a very helpful tool in warfare but it came with unforeseen circumstances.

There are different type of this herbicide while most people would just refer to them as Agent orange as it is by far the most widely used the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides" used in the warfare.There is Agent Purple,Pink etc.They are made up of different chemicals thus different names.

To find out more you can click this link



Agent orange was used in the Vietnam war by the US military to clear the dense forest of Vietnam. However, this herbicide was contaminated with Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin( A very long name for TCDD).This chemical can cause DNA damage indirectly.At that time,it was thought that Agent Orange would not hurt anyone only the trees.

Agent Orange was a mix of two chemicals, 2,4,D and 2,4,5,T. The mixture was then mixed with kerosene or diesel fuel and dispersed by aircraft and hand spraying.19 million gallons of Agent Orange were estimated to be used in during the Vietnam war.

After the war,it was made known that 4.8million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange.This caused 400,000 deaths and disabilities and 500,000 babies born with birth defects.Affected Vietnamese lived with genetic diseases and Agent Orange had poisoned their food chain.The chemical has been reported to cause serious skin diseases and as serious as cancer(lung).Children born in areas where agent Orange had been used would suffer from health problems such as cleft palate, mental disabilities and extra fingers and toes.

Agent Orange not only affected the civilians but also the soldiers of the country that used the herbicide too.The figure of the US soldiers affected was not recorded but I believe the number is not a few.

Later,scientists tested the effects of Agent Orange on animals in the laboratory.The animals showed evidence of DNA Damage and resulted in death.The effects of Agent Orange is still felt in Vietnam today.Many still have deformities passed down by their family. This just goes to show the devastating effects of war

Through this poem,the poet was trying to show that modern warfare can be as devastating as it can be.It has appalling effects such as death and deformities.War had scarred many people even after the war is over.I guess he is trying to express regret for the Vietnamese people and those affected like him but it is important to note that the people at that time did not know the effects of the herbicide.The poet wants to show that war has a high price to pay not just economically.

Credits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange
http://www.lewispublishing.com/orange.htm
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html