It could be that O'Brien means war stories don't always have clear-cut moral lessons or don't fit into traditional moral frameworks. They might challenge our usual notions of morality.
Maybe O'Brien thinks that war stories often present a complex and ambiguous picture that can't be neatly classified as morally right or wrong.
Maybe O'Brien thinks war is just too complex and chaotic to be neatly labeled as moral or immoral.
Well, Tim O'Brien might mean that a true war story is one that conveys the raw emotions and harsh realities of war without any sugarcoating or glorification.
It depends on the context of his writing. Maybe he means a story that accurately portrays the raw emotions and harsh realities of war without sugarcoating anything.
O'Brien might write war stories to give readers a deeper understanding of the realities and impacts of war. It could also be to honor the people he knew during those times or to raise awareness about certain issues related to warfare.
There could be a tough veteran character. He would be someone who has seen a lot in the war, has battle scars both physical and mental. He might act as a mentor to the younger soldiers, guiding them through the chaos of war.
Maybe it's because he has deep personal experiences and emotions related to war that he wants to express through his writing.
Maybe it's because those war experiences have had a profound impact on him and he wants to share them.
Tim O'Brien might write war stories to express his emotions and thoughts about war, and to give a voice to those who went through it. Also, it could be a way to document history and ensure that the lessons of war are not forgotten.
Another element is the portrayal of the psychological impact. His stories show how war changes the soldiers. It's not just about the physical battles but also the internal struggles, like dealing with guilt, fear, and the loss of innocence. The soldiers in his stories often have to grapple with these complex emotions long after the war is over.
It could be that O'Brien sees war stories as misleading, not showing the full impact on human lives and values. That's why he insists they're immoral. Also, sometimes these stories can romanticize war, which is far from the truth.