All Quiet on the Western Front
Using your viewing notes from the video respond to the following statement:
"Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die. ~Herbert
Hoover" You have until April 9 to respond.
Comments
That is the dumbest thing i have ever heard. The older men have
arguments they should solve them in a civilized manner instead of
killing younger men in useless battles. So both world wars were just a
bunch of old guys arguing and killing younger people for their cause.
Old people are self centered.
Posted by: conrad burnap (unauthenticated) | April 20, 2009 10:27 PM
all of the younger people that are in jr high and high school are off
at war having a terrible time just wanting to go home while all of the
older men were telling the boys that it is such a great thing and youre
a real man but they have no idea
Posted by: netasha 4 (unauthenticated) | April 15, 2009 6:00 PM
I agree with Curly. The youth really can't handle a war by themselves.
The teacher told them it was their duty to fight for god and land, and
the old men told Paul how they should beat the other side and that it
must be fun fighting for their country.
Posted by: Jace (5) (unauthenticated) | April 9, 2009 7:24 AM
yesterday in class when you said that you were gonna save mine for
presentations, what did you mean by that? :-D
Posted by: k-mart (unauthenticated) | April 9, 2009 7:20 AM
I think the quote,"Older men declare war. But its the youth that must
fight and die." -herbert Hoover- is exactly correct because the older
men would put pure pressure on the youth saying they have to join the
war or they would be failures to their country if they didn't join. But
in reality, the older men weren't even in the war its like playing the
game from the side lines, it just can't be done!
Posted by: ashley im not late tanori(5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 10:37 PM
I don't think that just "older men" declared war for others. I still
think that is unfair for one person to declare war for another. I also
think that the people that haven't fought on the front lines, but are
still pushing so hard are acting very unfair.I believe that before a
official makes any harsh decisions about war plans, that they should
have to serve some time on the front lines.
Posted by: Andrew(5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 10:07 PM
Sorry, but I think that is just plain stupid. Because it's like saying
to your friend" oh I hate that person, go beat them up." That's weird
because it's your problem, your opinion; go deal with it yourself. I
mean, they are old and have health issues, but to force a person to
fight is mean. They should have volunteers. Usually they make the best
soldiers because they are the ones that are willing to fight. I also
agree with hannah 5 because the old men really did volunteer the youth.
Posted by: Grace with one L 6 (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 9:14 PM
I agree with Maria(5). If the older men declare war then they should be
the ones who fight not the youth of the country. However, if a young man
honestly by his own free will wanted to go to war and fight for the
country that he loves, then he has every right to do so. They would be
considered disrespectful to their country if they didn't fight and I
honestly don't think that is right.
Posted by: Emma (5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 8:16 PM
wel I agree with Fernando(4) most of the people away from war that
have never been to war think its so easy and they have no idea what its
like. In the movie when paul came home for that short time the older men
were telling him what he should do, and I think paul was thinking like
what the heck are these guys talking about.
Posted by: Rat (5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 7:39 PM
I think that it is unfair to have younger men be in the war. The reason
why is because the older men declared war but, they are having to fight
war and see all the horror. Also, if the older men declared the war,
then they should be the ones who should fight the war not the younger
men, beause they didnt declare the war!! Also the older men mostly
volunteered and if they did and declared the war they should be the ones
who fight and die!!
Posted by: Ashley (5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 7:27 PM
The men that are too old to fight in the war encourage young men to join
the war. They don't know what the war is like, so they convince the
young men that the war is some great thing that brings honor to your
country and your god. These older men can speak great things about war
when war is nothing they expected. Young men are very excited to join
war because they have heard nothing but great things about war from
their fathers, grandfathers, and educators. I definitely agree with this
statement. Older men encourage young men to join the war, fight, and
die.
Posted by: Corinne(5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 6:42 PM
I agree that what Herbert Hoover said was the truth, even if some people
didn't like the sound of it. You can not have a seventy year old go off
and fight in war, it would not turn out so well. Although, I did not
like the fact that in All Quiet on the Western Front, the old men were
criticizing the young men, even though they themselves hadn't even been
to the front. (Teacher Comment: Good expression of your views, but a
pity I have no idea who you are!!)
Posted by: (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 6:23 PM
I kind of agree that if the old men declare a war that they should fight
in it. The only thing is that the old men probably wont be in the best
of shape and wouldn't be the best fighters. Its called a country for a
reason. A country isn't one person, its a group of people. Anyone from
that country should go to war. Young or old your part of the country.
Cade also brings up a good point. Before Countries go to war they should
talk it over.
Posted by: colton 5th hour (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 5:51 PM
I think that none of the older men really know how brutal the war is.
The way they are encouraging Paul to go to war, they make it sound fun
and if you don't go to war you're useless. The teacher was pressuring
the young boys to go to war even though they weren't ready. In my
opinion I don't think that the kids who looked 14 should even be allowed
to fight in the war.
Posted by: Alysha4 (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 4:45 PM
also I believe that it is not right that youth must fight and give
their lives for its country while (and i quote) “older men  stay
behind and hope for victory. I believe that Hoover was dead accurate on
his observation
ps pikachu you used the wrong their it should have been their not there
and whitehead the translator on this blog is bad it said that this was
what i said also I believe that it is not right that youth must fight
and give their lives for its country whereas the quote “less men 
feels behind and the hope of the victory who did not take care of for
the vacuum cleaner of the lives of youth was dead in exact in this
concept and observation. pikcahu of the picosecond that you used the
incorrect class of his he must have been his
Posted by: sam(5) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 4:35 PM
I agree with Turtle that Paul's experience was a good example of the
meaning of the quote. Even though the older men might be wise about
declaring war, they do not know how the war really is like the young
soldiers do. The soldiers are fighting and experiencing the horrors of
the war, while the older men were telling more young people how the war
would be an adventure and they needed to serve their countries. Yet,
well they are telling the young this, some are sitting back and eating
fancy food instead of doing their duty for their country.The young have
to suffer, well the old get to sit back.
Posted by: Cassandra (4) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 3:25 PM
I 100% agree with Madison. The older men kind of forced them to go out
and fight.They told them that is was God's will and the right thing to
do. It was like peer pressure in a way. If they didn't do their job than
they were know as a failure. The quote "Older men declare war. But it is
the youth that must fight and die. ~Herbert Hoover" This is unfair
because all people of all ages should fight for their country, the older
men should fight if they declare it.
Posted by: Katie 4 (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 8:45 AM
Its unfair for the old people to declare war and have the young people
fight. If they want to go to go to war they should go fight themselves.
Its very easy to tell other people to do somthing but if your not
willing to do it yourself, then you shouldn't tell them to.
Posted by: Kristiana (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 8:27 AM
I think that Hoover said the truth, even if people don't really like
the truth. In reality, the young people have no say in a war, but they
are the only ones who have to pay for it. Wars are pretty lame. I think
that Bertrand Russell said it best in his quote, "War does not determine
who is right. It only determines who is left."
:)
Posted by: Kinnon 4 :) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 8:26 AM
I also agree with the quote, the older men are the ones who usually
declare war(congress, politicians,people with more power, etc.)even
though the younger people must fight it and face the horrors of it.
Althugh,the older men were once young and had to possibly face a war
too, so they may know what they're talking about at the same time.
Posted by: Shelbie (4) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 8:20 AM
I agree with the statement and Colton(6). I also think that it was
unfair to the younger men because they knew what it was like and were
always being pressured into doing certain things by the older men who
didn't know what it was like up at the front.
Posted by: Tayler(4) (unauthenticated) | April 8, 2009 8:07 AM
I think this quote is very true about the war although i agree with
brody and must say i do not agree with the quote. I do think that the
older men do not have to go into war because they are most likely too
old to be hoping up and down every 10 seconds while fighting.But I don't
think it is very fair for the older men choosing the younger men and
then the men must go.
Posted by: emerson(6) (unauthenticated) | April 7, 2009 10:41 PM
I think its really unfair that the younger men have to fight when the
old geezers just declare the war and make ideas then they get the younge
men who still have lives to live to believe that they have to fight for
the father land thats so unfair
Posted by: Anna(4) (unauthenticated) | April 7, 2009 6:52 PM
I agree that it is unfair that the older men are declaring war for the
younger men. I find that very wrong and unacceptable that their letting
younger men die because of them declaring war. So, what if the old men
don't like it, why can't they just get on with their lives and don't
destroy others?? It's just best if the old men don't fight about it and
then nobody will die because of their mistakes.
Posted by: Kiana Alaniz!(5) (unauthenticated) | April 7, 2009 5:26 PM
I agree with Hannah because the older men declared war they should have
to go and fight and not volunteer the future generation. They caused the
problem so they need to solve it.
Posted by: Gracie P. (6) (unauthenticated) | April 7, 2009 5:05 PM
Emily(4th)
The war was unfair especially to the younger men. I agree with a lot of people, the older
men volunteered the younger men. They were going at the age of 13. I can't imagine
going to war now. Back at home, the older men told the younger men how easy it would
be to win and how great war was. I think the war was not fair
Posted by: Emily Jane Margaret Graham (student) | April 7, 2009 4:39 PM
I agree with almost everyone who has posted a comment. I think since the
older men declare the war they should have to put towards effort and be
part of it, they dont even know whats going on in the war!! The younger
men are the ones actually working and the older ones are just talk.
Posted by: Emily (6) (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 8:53 PM
I agree with Herbert Hoover that the young men have to fight the older
men's wars. I believe the older men should have to fight if they want a
war. Also, people should try to talking it out using diplomacy and
negotiation instead of declaring wars because wars are horrific and what
is lost in a war can never be replaced(human life)
Posted by: Cade(5) (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 8:23 PM
I think Herbert Hoover's statement was very accurate. The older men
don't know what it is like to be shot at. Instead, they have this
picture in their head that shows war is just a game and that when they
have a chance, they should declare war. But the younger men in the war
know the truth and horrors of war. These young men know the reality of
war while the older men just sit back and think of ways to win when it's
not that easy.
Posted by: Fernando 4 (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 8:20 PM
It may be that the older men decide it's the best thing to go to
war, But Daring youth will always go out to war no matter what. It's
nationalism, Some People could care less about why there's a war but
still run out to fight anyway.
C*o*o*D
**O** ((It's a monkey!))
*********
Posted by: Drummer boy 4 (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 7:56 PM
I agree with Madison, Makaela, and Brody because it is unfair that the
older men are declaring war. They don't understand that these younger
men are seeing death. It obviously screws up the soldiers, and for the
men, who aren't/haven't ever been in war don't understand at all. Plus,
the older men don't see why the plans aren't working.
Posted by: Kelly (4) (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 7:40 PM
I agree with Herbert also because the old guys in congress declare that
they want to go to war with some other country but they don't have to
fight. They just want to win the war and enjoy the spoils. It's like
Hannah in 5th said, the old guys basically volunteer for the young guys
that have their whole lives ahead of them to fight and die.
Posted by: daniel-4 (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 6:46 PM
Ok well I definetley agree with Brody when he said that Paul from the
movie was a great example. Because he really was. When he was at home on
his leave he went out to lunch with his dad and some of his dad's
friends, his dad wanted him to wear his army uniform so he could "show
him off" also Paul's dad was saying things like "Yeah the war is great!!
You can serve duty for your motherland and have victory! YAY!" but it
totally isnt like that at all and i don't think that the old guys who
aren't fighting the war have the right to say its great, because its not
and tons and tons of young guys are dying and thats uncool... so I think
that it's unfair for the old guys to declare war and make it sound great
but the young guyshave to fight and die. But my question is, how come
NONE of the old guys fight...or at least why didnt we see any, besides
Cat, in the movie? Because I mean couldn't like 50 year olds fight
because not too many of them are way old and not in shape and not
strong?
Posted by: Turtle[4] (unauthenticated) | April 6, 2009 6:33 PM
It's unfair that the "older men" volunteered the "youth" to go fight.
The "older men" don't understand the real horror at the front. They talk
only about the goodness of serving their country.
Posted by: madison-4 (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 8:55 PM
I believe that Hoover meant, the older men are the politicians and
statesmen that declare the wars but do not know the truths and horrors
of war. They make the war sound fun and grand like a game of cowboys and
Indians. Even so the young men must die at the front, fighting for their
country. To them, war is not a game at all. It is an act of life or
death.
Posted by: Nadia(4) (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 8:50 PM
I agree, the older guys are the ones that usually declare war but the
teens are the ones who actually have to go and fight. I think that the
people that declare war should be the ones that have to deal with it.
Posted by: Miranda5 (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 8:32 PM
I think this statement is true even though it's unfair because the older
men have had a longer lifetime and the younger men are pushed and
convinced, by nationalism, to go to war or they are not worthy of their
country
Posted by: Makaela V (6) (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 7:03 PM
I don't agree with Herbert Hoover. I think he is right when he says the
older men declare the war, but wrong when he says the young MUST fight
and die. The older men do not have the ability to fight the war, so why
should they be able to declare it.Yes, when the older people declare the
war, all the young men have to go fight when there is a draft, but that
shouldn't be how it works. If you declare the war you have to be able to
stand up for why you think there should be a war. Although I feel this
way, it has everything to do with All Quiet on The Western Front because
the ruler(he was older than others) declared the war, but people down to
the age of 13 had to go and fight.
Posted by: Brody -4 (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 6:13 PM
I agree with this quote as well. I think that most of the time, the
older men do declare the war. They think they know everything, but they
really don't know anything because the young men are the ones who go to
war. I think Paul in the movie was a great example. The older men he
was with were telling him what he should do and Paul knew that it
wouldn't work.
Posted by: Alyssa 5 (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 5:16 PM
I disagree with this quote because if the older people declare war then
the older people should be the people who should fight in war. Also
because the younger people are the future generation and without the
young people there would be no future.
Posted by: Maria (5) (unauthenticated) | April 5, 2009 4:44 PM
ok... personally i think that it's totally true. the older dudes declare
the war and by the time that the war starts, their not strong enough to
fight it. (lame). Also, i think that it's completely and totally
unreasonable to put old farts in charge of declaring wars. they don't
tend to think about all the people dying while fighting. i mean
seriously, if they're gonna be the "big guy" and declare the war, then
they sure as heck better be able to get off their butts and fight it!!!
oh and also, there's slight possibility that the dude who declares the
war, might actually be dead by the time it starts. (sorry for that
negativity, but you gotta admit that it's kinda true) :-D
Posted by: k-mart (unauthenticated) | April 4, 2009 6:48 PM
I agree with Dylan that it is the "older men" in congress and other
political positions that declare the war and send the younger generation
to the front lines. I believe that the “older men  need to
experience the severity of the battles and then I believe that they can
come up with a truly educated solution to the dilemma that the nations
have come upon.
Posted by: Daniel (6) (unauthenticated) | April 4, 2009 5:46 PM
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Posted by: (unauthenticated) | April 4, 2009 1:04 PM
Hey whitehead... Its me. I was just reading Curly's and Madi's comments
and they are totally right. The old lazy fat men declare war saying "
you will fight and "defeat" the others when they can't even fight
thremselves. they are very hypocritical and need to get a life. BUT The
young men need to get a chance at living because if the men are all at
war how is the population going to survive I mean like how are we going
to get pregnant or even married if ALL of the REAL men are gone. The way
that they totally bring others in to thier deaath because they simply
are too lazy or just don't want to die. I think that the statement is
how it works but that is NOT how it was meant to when war was first
started.
Posted by: wirz... Captain Henry Wirz... (unauthenticated) | April 4, 2009 12:50 PM
Hoover is absolutely right. All of the older people make the younger
people think war is an honor and to fight with dignity. So while the
old people sit back and relax, the young people are getting blown to
bits. For example, in the movie, the teacher told the students that
they had to fight the war for their Kaiser, the fatherland, and their
god. That's a pretty big deal to most of those kids.
Posted by: nick(6) (unauthenticated) | April 4, 2009 10:08 AM
I agree with Curly in 5th hour, the older men think that the war is easy
and that war is not for old men who cant fight. Herbert hoover said the
quote "Older men declare war,but it is the youth who must fight and
die." This quote is saying that the young men that have energy should go
fight for the older and not as energized older men. This isnt really
fair to me because it says that if you are young, you have to possibly
go to war, and die.
Posted by: Mark~6 (unauthenticated) | April 3, 2009 11:51 AM
I strongly agree with this statement. I think that Hoover made a great
point by saying this because it is very true: The older men are the ones
who declare the war(they are usually the presidents, congress, etc.) but
it is the soldiers who actually fight it (these soldiers were usually
drafted, being ages as young as 15.)
I think that this quote perfectly describes All Quiet On the Western
Front.
Posted by: Dylan (6) (unauthenticated) | April 3, 2009 8:31 AM
Well, to be honest, I believe Hoover's opinion of war is not right at
all. If "Older men declare war", then it should be the older men's
problem to deal with said war. They shouldn't let the younger generation
on the front lines and die for what the "older men" have to handle
themselves.(not saying that just because I'm a kid, I think it's just
plain wrong to send men into battle)
Posted by: "John" (5) (unauthenticated) | April 3, 2009 7:33 AM
I think it means that the big older dudes declare war, then have the
younger people that can auctally do the work go out and fight the war.
So basicly it like saying o ya, I'll clean up your yard, then have your
brother do it.
Posted by: Michael Hefner -4th (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 8:28 PM
I think that what Herbert Hoover said is very true. I also believe that
if an older person is going to pick a fight, the ones who are actually
gonna fight should be able to have their say in this. It depends their
future and may define whether they live or die. Also, did Herbert Hoover
say this as a positive thing or a negative thing? (TEACHER COMMENT: This
is certainly an interesting question-how you read into the quote changes
the meaning of. Hmm-what was he meaning?)
Posted by: Max(5) (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 8:00 PM
The statement by Herbert Hoover means, in my opinion, that older men are
the people who keep the economy running. They also run our government.
If the government fails then chaos happens and we have our own little
war here at home. The youth are the only ones left at school or home
looking for jobs. If a war starts then the army starts asking for men.
If this happens the jobs available increases. This is where boys are
able to get a job so they enlist.
Posted by: pikcahu (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 6:48 PM
I believe Herbert was right because politicians are the ones who anger
countries and introduce wars and these people are quote "Older men" but
they don't fight instead they send the youth to fight even though its
not there war
Posted by: Hunter 4 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 5:52 PM
I think that the statement made by Herbert Hoover can be looked at two
ways. I mean, true, the older men usually do declare war while it is the
younger generation that fights, but it is a bit of a hardship that they
think it was right to declare the war when they nothing of what will
happen or what IS happening because of that declaration. I also think
that the generation who declares war should follow through and fight
alongside the younger generation.
Posted by: Sydney 4 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 5:30 PM
all of the older men are talking about how wonderful it would be to go
to war and about serving your country and how it is their duty and an
honor while the soldiers start to get younger and younger and learn
about horror of going to war and that it is not as simple as the people
at home make it out to be
Posted by: meagan 6 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 5:02 PM
On All Quiet on the Western Front when Paul comes back home there is
some old guys telling him how to win the war with a strategy. They had
no idea what the war was like and neither did Paul's teacher. I think
that what Hoover is saying is that the people that declare the war (the
older men) don't see the reality of the war or suffer like the youth do.
idk
Posted by: madi-4 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 4:55 PM
HE means when the old people don't like something they start a war but
the youth have to fight it because they're to old to fight. An example
when the guy got shot in the leg and was on leave he met with some
elderly men and they said all you have to do is go around the side and
squash them. But that wouldn't work because they didn't know what it was
like out there on the front.
Posted by: curly 5 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 4:35 PM
Herbert Hoover means the old men don't like something and they start a
war. The youth fight it because the oldies can't. Like in all quiet when
he went home on leave the old men were saying you have to come around
here and squash them. They didn't know what it was like and that that
wasn't possible. The teacher was also convincing men to join the war
when he couldn't because he was to old.
Posted by: curly 5 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 4:29 PM
I don't think that it is fair for just the youth to fight the war, but
in a way it is also necessary because if a old man is fighting a war he
is most likely to die before a man in his 20's. So for the statement it
also depends on the age of the "older men" and the "youth"
Posted by: Shyla4 (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 4:28 PM
I agree with the statement because usually the younger men are fighting
in the war and they aren't very old.
Posted by: colton(6) (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 4:23 PM
I think it is unfair to the young men that have to fight. The older men
pretty much volunteered the younger kids to fight and die because the
older men declared war and aren't going to fight.
Posted by: hannah(5) (unauthenticated) | April 2, 2009 4:09 PM