To me, the most powerful section in the first three chapters is the conversation between Edwards and the B.F. regarding the war and why it is being fought. This is where the brainwashing of citizens by politicians and leaders comes to the forefront. The B.F. and Edwards directly contrast on whether or not the war is something worth fighting for. The B.F. is brainwashed by politicians and the church as she says, “We are in the right, aren’t we?…The Church says so dear.” Unlike her fellow ambulance driver, Edwards is able to look past the brainwashing and instead comments, “We came out here puffed out with patriotism. There isn’t one of us who wouldn’t go back tomorrow.” The B.F. represents the brainwashed citizens of the countries at war and Edwards represents the worn out soldiers who know the reality of the war. This section also draws parallels to All Quiet on the Western Front as Paul mentions how this is a war being fought in reality by 30 or so leaders who use their people as pawns. It really points to the insignificance that the leaders regard their people with and just how much power they really have as they are able to brainwash people into killing others just because of their nationalistic affiliation. One part that Smith brings in that Remarque did not is the element of gender and how if women were in control the war would already be over. I thought this was interesting also as it does seem to make sense as I would assume almost all if not all of the world leaders at this time were men. If they were women, perhaps the war never would’ve started. Overall, this section exhibits the ignorance of individuals due to nationalism. The bloody fool or B.F. is the epitome of this ideal and I am curious to see how her mindset will change as the war goes on. Do you think she will continue to stay brainwashed or will she shift her mindset to one similar to Edwards?