The song "Sixteen Military Wives" was written by the Decemberists for their third album, Picaresque, in 2005, during the decline of the Iraq War's popularity. The band's lyrics are known to comment on historical incidents, which is reflected in this song as well. Colin Meloy, songwriter, personally characterized this song as a protest song.
What exactly is the song attempting to protest? What kind of metaphors are made in order to back up that point? Do you feel like this song is an accurate portrayal of the American condition? What is the significance of the video from 3:00-3:18?
The lyrics are available here.
[post composed by Blog Group 5]
I found this video to be quite comical, but very true. I guess you can call this s satire in a sense. In my opinion it is talking about how the US has the mentality if you're not with us, then you're against us. Since this song was produced in 2005, during the decline of the Iraq war, it is most likely saying that the US is losing proponents of the war effort in other countries, and turning against those countries.This video is attempting to say the only one that will end up losing is the US because other countries will begin to lose support in the war effort as well as the US, not vice versa, This video was very clever in portraying the countries as school children playing their games in their cliques because that's really what it's like.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started watching the video it was a little confusing, but as it went on I feel that it better illustrated the points it was making. My interpretation of the videos point is similar to Polina’s. I feel that it illustrates the U.S. as a bit of a bully. Everyone is on the U.S’s side except for the victim (Luxembourg) and one other who didn’t think it was right (Ireland). As soon as Ireland found out the true talent of Luxembourg, the other nations switched sides very rapidly. Before he knew it, the U.S. was overwhelmed because everyone had turned on him.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the some of the questions, I feel that this video is attempting to protest the U.S fighting wars in smaller foreign countries. If I am correct the scene of the U.S. planting a weapon in Luxembourg’s locker and then tattling on him is from 3:00 to 3:18. I have no opinion on its significance, but I feel that it is portraying an image like the U.S planted weapons in Iraq.
I agree that this video is poised to appear as the USA as sort of the principle figure with other nations of the UN as children following the rules. This I think stems from the fact that the main headquarters for the UN is stationed here in America, as if the America is the host and the leader. With sanctions against Luxembourg and the massive following of the UN this sort of represents the complete backing of the UN behind US claims of weapons of mass destruction against Iraq. At the time I was a little skeptical if in fact such weapons did exist myself and later as the war went on the fact that mass destructive weapons were non existent. With the scene showing the sling shot in the locker this sort of backs the idea that there were weapons but they weren't quite as deadly to the world at large as was originally painted, nevermind the massibe caches of weapons Iraq did have were largely left over from the Iraq and Iran wars and the war against Kuwait (both were backed by US involvement in some way).
ReplyDeleteI especially liked when Ireland backs luxembourg and brings about support by all the other UN members, to me this represented the massive movement to discredit US involvement with the middle East to begin with.
I didn't really understand the video or lyrics at first, but as it went on the video started to become more clear to me, and I better understood it. What I interrupted from this video is that the video makes the United States look a bit like a bully as Cameron and Polina said in their opinions. Usually everyone is on the US side expect for those we are going againist, like Ireland. Ireland found out the talent of Luxembourg, and soon other nations switched sides very quickly to their side. I feel this video is trying to give a message stating that the US will only be the ones losing because other countries will soon lose support in the war effort as well as the United States. It was a very interesting video I'd have to say.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a very good choice for the topic of the class. A song written right before the dealiest year (for Americans at least) of the Iraq war. The video seemed to show that america declared war over a "shoulder check" in a hallway at school. Something that is disrespectul no doubt but not something worth getting in a fist-fight/war over. Then america is shown with her two allies (actual allies in the war in iraq) Poland and South Korea. Then the lyrics "if america says then it is so" pretty much stating that we believed something to be true simply because our leader said it was true. Towards the end everyone turning against america for being dishonest is displayed when the other countries make a song.
ReplyDeleteAs far as that time frame goes I honestly cant figure it out. We never found any weapons as far as I know so America really didnt do any planting...
This vedio features a wrong portion of the US deplomacy. Undountfully, US currently is the most dominant country in the world. By colidating its position, American government tends to isolate the country which againsts them.From this vedio, it showed two major allies of the US in the war with Iraq. When American representatives say something, its allies always waive their batons. It is pretty ironic because when other countries make decision, they are usually under the threat of American and thor allies' military force. In the vedio between 3-3.18 minutes, it is the metaphor of the reason that launching war on Iraq. Bush's government declared war on Irap because it says Iraq has mass damaging weapon.However, in the end, they could not find any weapon. Instead of facing this truth, Bush's government planted weapon in Iraq for excuse. In the end of the song, all the nations turned their side which against America. It tells politician do not do this thing again because in the end, we are the only losing one.
ReplyDeleteThe video shows the U.S. using their political power to declare war on a much smaller country, that could never be a real threat to them, while still retaining international approval. In order to make the U.S. case for war stronger they fabricate evidence against their enemy. This is symbolic of the United States claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction before the invasion of Iraq. This could also be referring to the U.S. providing weapons and training to Al-Qaeda during the Cold War. This video also illustrates the U.S. using sanctions to oppress countries for seemingly no reason. The end of the video seems to be a warning to the United States that if they continue using unwarranted force against countries that are much weaker the world will turn against them.
ReplyDeleteThis video was really confusing while watching it. Looking at the lyrics, I agree with David. The video shows how the United States can make up evidence against another country in order to declare war on them. The United States uses their power and stature in the world to control things whether the countries we're helping like it or not. The end of the video shows that people may not like our attitude with other countries, and it could come back to haunt us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the people who are saying that it seems this video is portraying America as a bully. Just by watching how the US representative was in charge of the meeting.Towards the end of this video it depicts how a lot of people dont agree with how America acts like this towards other countries and this could potentially come back in a later day to hurt us. This video shows how America uses its power to do whatever it wants and that is a common theme with our society and culture today.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else's comments regarding the video, how America can tend to be a bully to other countries just because we feel we have the power to do so. I remember one point in the song the lyrics were "if America says it's so, it's so." Those particular lyrics support my thoughts, along with my classmates, how America believes they must be right about every idea they come up with, and that other countries should support and believe them. Therefore, the song is trying to protest America believes they have every right to declare war on other countries, such as Iraq. The video depicts, however, that necessarily is not the case, as Ireland did. I had the same thoughts as Cameron during 3:00-3:18 in the video, how America was being a tattle tale and set up the other country for failure. I do not think this is accurate of America, but I could see how other countries may feel this way since we are such a powerful nation.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic satire and the fact that there is good music accompanying it is just an added bonus. As a protest song, this tends to stray towards the unusual side of the tracks -- instead of just stating the issue or calling out for peace and love, the artist calls for us to see that the politics of the American government during this time is equivalent childish bickering.
ReplyDeleteThe American government did approach the issue of the Iraq war with a 'you're with us or you're against us' approach -- as many of you have already pointed out. It seems obvious to me that the effects of sanctions are greatly exaggerated, however - it gets the point across with the utmost clarity. A good song, a good satire and an excellent post for this blog.
I agree with mostly everyone else in how America can try and boss other country's around in some cases. I found many parts of this an accurate portrayal of America. For example, how we think we are better than everyone and sports and acedemics just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteIt is a little confusing for me to understand the video. But i know it is very funny, both the song and the video. I like the way of people's act and their world. This is a sone about America and its politicis and it role in the world. Instead of treat the topic too serious, the singer chose to use a satire method to show his topic and it really works perfect on me. Although i can not understand the all words, but i laugh for deveral times. America want to be the boss of the world and conquer every other countries. thank you for posting the blog
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