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.

[glock rocks]

It's all in the user interface.

[Dashing Dasher]

Wonder how he knew of Russell Kirk, tho? Kirk was prominent in the 50's and 60's, not the 40's.

His Poli/Sci Professor probably mentioned it today in lecture.

[Dashing Dasher]

That's my new favorite kitty!

[TexasCajun]

Crawl back into your hole with your gay "life partner" and sodomize each other!!

Needed repeating!! ...only louder!

[phoenix0468]

...stare in horrified fascination

Don't you mean cheer in glorified exhilaration?

[Darksheare]

Well, yes.
But there's an image to uphold.
*chuckle*
;-)

[Dashing Dasher]

I have a cat that could tame your six dogs!
I am the lucky slave to a Japanese BobTail named Psycho (appropriately) and she used to whack my Rottweiler on the head and run away (laughing!)

[proudmilitarymrs]

THANKS, Kirk sounds like a nut-case

[MarineBrat]

Hey, thanks! :) Makes me proud to be up there in kitty lore!

[trisham]

The observant will have noticed

*****************

Wow. A misstep right out of the gate.

[MeekOneGOP]

haha!

What's funny is that I copied JR's note just above my ping there,
then thought that I had written the typo.

[phoenix0468]

If a CNN reporter walked up to me while I was in the military, and asked to interview me, I would ask them if they mided if I spit on them too. "What do 'ya mean?" Well, Mr/Ms commie pinko liberal hippie MSM spew monkey, what I mean is, when you were there back in the sixties wearing that flower power dress and sandals, how many Soldiers did you spit on. CNN was on the beach in Somolia right? The did air the launching of the Tomahawks one hour before they were to bomb Bin Laden right? Well, Mr/Ms CNN reporter, you've been spitting on our troops for decades, now it's my turn!!

[phoenix0468]

Ping

[Darksheare]

Egads.. typo demons got the Big Guy?!
Perhaps I should keep distance between he and I then, can't risk typo demon infection.
I know that my typos rub off on people.

[Hi Heels]

Hahahhhaa.... I once had two big Belgium Shepherds. About 120-135 lbs apiece. One was so protective, I had to leash him to the piano which he dragged across the room every time the pizza guy came. My ex one day, in his usual fog, adopted a Pekingese puppy. Her favorite game was to wait until the big dogs were asleep, dash over, take a hunk out of their lip, then run for cover on my ex's lap. One day...... ex wasn't there....hehhehe... Thought she was gonna pass out. Fortunately the Shepherd was still lashed to the piano, so I could get to her before him...barely.

[Purrcival]

DARN! Missed the ZOT again!!!! Well, ya snooze, ya lose...

[international american]

I recieved a bimp on the forehead.

[Purrcival]

Nah, he was just trying to "educate" us.

[international american]

Yep. Most of our trolls aren't smart enough to be that tricky.

[JCRoberts]

O.K. I gotta ask you something, even though you're ZOTTED and cannot respond. Is this you?

If so, it explains a lot.