Literature has always been a big part of life, no matter what part of the world you’re in. When you think about how much of an impact literature has had in our history, it’s easy to see why people must keep writing. Some examples of these history changing books are: The Bible, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, A Modern Proposal and many more. These works have changed policies, points of view and the world as we know it. Literature that has been having more and more influence in our lives would be that of current soldiers in the War in Iraq.

Brian Turner, Photo by Tom Bosch, New York Times

Brian Turner joins many writers who have written about the war and their experiences. His book, however, is a collection of poetry called “Here, Bullet.” Turner served as an infantry leader in Iraq. According to the New York Times, for Turner, “Poetry was the perfect vehicle, the page was the place where I could think about what had happened,” Turner said.

Turner’s title poem gives readers a look into his realization of the truth of his duty in the war:

“If a body is what you want,

then here is the bone and gristle and flesh,

… because here, Bullet,

here is where the world ends, every time.”

The war in Iraq has been documented like no other war. Thanks to technology, soldiers find ways to document their day to day lives on the battle field or in their camps. Numerous blogs and memoirs of accounts of the war have been published. These books provide an amazing look into the lives of soldiers and the reality about war. These accounts are raw and honest and are written not only to be an outlet for the soldier, but to let readers into their everyday lives, what they’re fighting for, what they’re dying for. Soldier blogs that turned into books include “My War” by Colby Buzzel, “Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War” by Matt Gallagher and “Love My Rifle More than You” by Kayla Williams.

Although these blogs and books are written by U.S. Soldiers, their audiences reach the rest of the world. The impact of their words will be bigger than just the battle field; they’ll be bigger than our country. Their impact will be vital to the world’s understanding of what is happening in this war. Let them inspire you to write to change the world. Everybody can make a difference and the best way is to voice it any way you can. Believe in it, live it, tell about it. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”