War is defined as a state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties. However, war is so much more than that; it leaves an everlasting effect on everyone involved. An individual fighting in a war sacrifices his soul and part of his heart. Friends and family members struggle to maintain a healthy, unaltered relationship; this attempt is hard, though, because the individual is mentally scarred for life. Lastly, society is exposed to war and killing in the media and may become numb to the violence. This may contribute to further violence and pain. Ultimately, war leaves internal wounds on every survivor.
             As a result of war, the individuals who are sent to kill the "enemy" are left with two things: the memory that they murdered innocent men, and the thought that they could have easily been killed. A veteran of war, Howard Zinn believes that war always brings the death of innocent people. He states "at the irreducible core of all war is the slaughter of the innocent" (Zinn 1). He clearly believes that war is never just if it causes death and should not be used to solve problems or to create peace. After killing innocent people just because they are the "enemy" a sense of self-disgust overwhelms the individual, sometimes to the point of insanity. In Rhine Boat Trip, Irving Layton describes the idea of appearance versus reality from a war veteran's standpoint. In other words, to some a castle looks beautiful, but to others it is a fortress where people were killed. He says, "the castles of Rhine are all haunted by the ghosts of Jewish mothers looking for their ghostly children...however sweetly they sing one hears only the low wailing of cattle cars moving invisibly across the land." (Layton 1-4, 13-16). He is saying that war does in fact leave lingering, often devastating impressions in their minds. In Heart of Darkness, Kurtz bec...