I think collective memory of a society plays a great role in the group narrative in the war on terror. This war began after 9/11 but hasn't ceased since. With each new proxy war we build on top of the foundation our media and culture has build about "the enemy" we must fight.
The deaths we remember seem to hold more weight than the ones overseas, countless dead and more injured and scared by the actions of our troops occupation. This never ending war hurts more civilians than it does terrorist. The cycle of death, vengeance, damage, and victory happens again and again on different fronts.
In many fights we recall the one who struck the first blow. This shifts the blame onto the one who started the fight. We neglect the fact that provocation was involved or the blows we countered with harmed many more. Shook nations to their cores. Defeated democracies and put corruption in influential places. Destroyed cultures and ruined diplomatic relationships that could have been utilized to reach our goal for vengeance on those who deserved it most.
The invisible and silenced stories in this narrative often come from the opposition and our very own veterans. In the short story "Redeployment" we take in the testimony of a veteran who has just been sent home. His cold blooded stories about shooting innocent dogs, killing insurgents and watching other die chill the audience. It brings us no honour or glory to be apart of this narrative. The invisible lives of those killed and those animals senselessly killed cause readers discomfort.
The death of Vicar in this story puts the hypocrisy of both the reader and the protagonist in plain view. Even though Price has killed many dogs on a whim he feels as though he is breaking something fundamental within himself when he prepares to pull the trigger. The people he killed bear less weight than his pet.
The same is true for the audience. Many of us would run into burning buildings for our beloved fur babies. Yet, when it comes to the deaths of thousands of foreigners on foreign soil, we are cold and unfeeling to their deaths. Women, children, elderly and youth have died under our bombs and bullets. We silently condone these actions by not speaking out.
The dog could represent the innocence and hypocrite Price is. By killing this part of himself, he sees clearly. He has lost his innocence long ago, this final action destroys what little is left. Vicar has wasted away he was out following orders, when he returns his attention to his weakened pet he feels guilt, remorse and even sadness at the action he feels he must take. These emotions are not present in earlier accounts of his wartime experience, displaying the hypocrite the protagonist is. All this emotion for a dog yet nothing for those "insurgents' he killed.
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