ZOT! The Walking Wounded

The American Conservative ^ | January 31, 2005 | Fred Reed

[hard_rocker1232]

The observant will have noticed that we hear little from the troops in Iraq and see almost nothing of the wounded. Why, one might wonder, does not CNN put an enlisted Marine before a camera and, for 15 minutes without editing, let him say what he thinks? Is he not an adult and a citizen? Is he not engaged in important events on our behalf?

Sound political reasons exist. Soldiers are a risk PR-wise, the wounded a liability. No one can tell what they might say, and conspicuous dismemberment is bad for recruiting. An enlisted man in front of a camera is dangerous. He could wreck the governmental spin apparatus in five minutes. It is better to keep soldiers discreetly out of sight.

So we do not see much of the casualties, ours or theirs. Yet they are there, somewhere, with missing legs, blind, becoming accustomed to groping at things in their new darkness, learning to use the wheelchairs that will be theirs for 50 years. Some face worse fates than others. Quadriplegics will be warehoused in VA hospitals where nurses will turn them at intervals, like hamburgers, to prevent bedsores. Friends and relatives will soon forget them. Suicide will be a frequent thought. The less damaged will get around.

[PilloryHillary]

You emit more stupid in just one post on FreeRepublic.com than our entire galaxy emits in a year. Good riddance, troll.

ZOT

[Darksheare]

LOL!
That, and WebTV no longer has support..
*chuckle*
;-)

[Darksheare]

LOL!
Thanks!

[Tax-chick]

Go away, troll, or my penguin and I will poop on you!

[Fiddlstix]

tank yu
Bimp

[freedumb2003]

That, and WebTV no longer has support..

I remember that -- wasn't that when wonder-devices that are combo microwave, game, drain-cleaner, TV and computer were supposed to take us to the land of milk and money?

[Darksheare]

Welcome.
;-)

[Fiddlstix]

Knot rightin good iz uh sine off caracter.

An a gud edukeshun to

[Darksheare]

Yuppers!
The 'miracle' of internet appliances.
Laundry machines that would need anti-virus software and toasters that would lockup andneed rebooting in the middle of a toasting cycle.
;-)

[KoRn]

LOL that's great!

[freedumb2003]

I always wondered about the web-enabled fridge that would order food when it ran low... I mean how do we know the fridge isn't what is doing the eating?

[R. Scott]

It seems to me the case for the legitimacy of the war can be made far more easily by a real soldier than some Harvard grad who never wore boots.

Most definitely – but it would seldom be what the networks want to publicize.

[Darksheare]

LOL!
Yeah, or it gets hacked and reveals your PIN and account number ot people so you end up having huge charges on your accounts..
The brainiacs who thought that up deserve to test the thing out themselves.

[R. Scott]

Yep.

[glock rocks]

Bimp ?

[andyandval]

LOL that's great!

You're the author! I took that pic, Val says, "That's perfect!"

I like it too. ;-)

[KoRn]

I'm glad he liked it! ;-)

[KoRn]

Darksheare PWNS ALL!!

[Fiddlstix]

It's what happens when you let a minkey type.

[Darksheare]

LOL!
Actually, I think the Mods and JIm Pwn3d this guy.