The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

 American War by Omar El Akkad

Book Club Questions:

1. The novel’s epigraphs draw from an ancient Arabic book of poems and the Bible, framing the conflict in a way that echoes historical narratives of resistance and divine justification for ecological destruction similar to We will be Jaguars. How does this literary choice challenge or reinforce Western-centric views of war and resistance, and what does it suggest about the colonial power (coloniality) in the narrative of the Second American Civil War?

2. The war in American War is triggered by a ban on fossil fuels, a policy that disproportionately dehumanizes the Southern states, mirroring historical patterns of extraction where colonial and imperial powers imposed economic restrictions on occupied regions. How does the novel depict the South’s resistance as a form of anti-colonial struggle, and in what ways does this reflect real-world dynamics of resource control and resistance?

3. The use of unmanned drones, referred to as "the Birds," to target Southern Rebels recalls the remote, dehumanizing violence characteristic of modern colonial and military interventions for resources. How does the novel’s portrayal of drone warfare reflect the colonial violence, where distant powers inflict destruction without direct accountability, and how does this resonate with contemporary global conflicts?

4. The character of Sarat Chestnut, a young woman from the South, becomes a tragic (?) symbol of resistance and later an assassin, embodying the transformation of the colonized subject into a weapon of war. How does her journey reflect dynamics of gender and power, particularly in how her agency is both forged and constrained by the very systems of oppression she seeks to dismantle?

6. The presence of the Bouazizi Empire and anonymous benefactors from China, who fund the Southern Rebels from afar, introduces a global dimension to the conflict. How does this element critique global capital, where distant powers exploit and manipulate local conflicts for their own interests, and how does it parallel historical patterns of foreign intervention in colonized nations?

7. The title American War and the narrative’s focus on a future America torn apart by internal conflict invite reflection on the nation-state. How does the novel challenge the myth of America as a singular, unified, and inherently progressive nation, and instead expose the deep-seated inequalities and violent foundations that have long characterized its expansion and governance?

Interview

https://youtu.be/_WbTgEHXbDc?si=FBWzQy1f-Ri6qWTB

Notes on environmental collapse and human rights violations:

- Climate Change and Environmental Collapse: Rising sea levels have submerged coastal cities like Miami and parts of Louisiana, displacing millions and reshaping the geography of the United States. This climate-induced displacement is central to the novel’s setting, with refugee camps housing those displaced by environmental disaster.

- Ecological Degradation: The novel references invasive species, such as lionfish infestations in the Gulf, symbolizing broader ecological imbalance. These details underscore the long-term environmental consequences of human intervention and climate change.

- Biological Warfare and Environmental Contamination: The use of a deadly plague as a weapon not only causes mass human casualties but also contributes to environmental dread, blurring the line between natural and man-made disaster. The epidemic spreads through contaminated environments, amplifying the sense of a world unraveling on multiple fronts.

- Indefinite Detention and Torture: The novel portrays the detention camp at Camp Patience, where Southern refugees are held indefinitely without trial, echoing real-world sites like Guantánamo Bay. Inmates are subjected to torture, including waterboarding and solitary confinement, reflecting violations of the right to humane treatment and due process.

- Targeted Violence and Extrajudicial Killings: The use of drone strikes ("the Birds") to assassinate suspected rebels without judicial oversight exemplifies extrajudicial killings. These acts bypass legal accountability and disproportionately harm civilians, mirroring critiques of modern counterinsurgency operations.

- Denial of Medical Care and Biological Warfare: The deliberate spread of a plague among Southern populations constitutes a form of biological warfare and a severe violation of the right to health. The withholding of medical treatment and vaccines reinforces systemic neglect and punishment of an entire region.

- Child Soldiers and Exploitation: Sarat’s recruitment and weaponization by the Southern insurgency highlight the exploitation of children in armed conflict, violating international protections against the use of child soldiers and the right to childhood and education.