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.

[international american]

"I know that my typos rub off on people."

Not nefessarily.

[international american]

Yeah, he would to me too, except that crap written about Kirk TOTALLY misrepresented everything about Kirk. I don't know who Lew Rockwell is, and don't want to.

[MeekOneGOP]

I know that my typos rub off on people.

Hhu? Whta wsa htat???

[dfwright]

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?

You know what I suggest? Try www.anysoldier.com... Send a few care packages, and you might find that you can get to discoursing with a real-live soldier, and learn what they have to say first hand. It's a blessing for you, and the soldiers who receive the packages. What a deal!!

[dfwright]

Rats! messed up the link. I am HTML deficient today.

Try again. www.anysoldier.com

[Dashing Dasher]

Nice Doggies!

;-)

[Dashing Dasher]

I've sent a few packages that way. Sunscreen, paperbacks, chapstick, decks of cards, hygiene products....that sort of thing

I also had two penpals and they have both returned home.

I should go get me another!

;-)

[dfwright]

I've sent a few packages that way.

It's fun, isn't it? We've sent about 8 packages now. We generally save up some money and put snacks, magazines, toiletries, and stuff like that in. It make us feel good to do it, and when you find out that it made a soldier happy to receive it, it's a blast.

[Dashing Dasher]

I agree.
I've gotten several of my friends involved also.

It makes me feel like I'm doing something... even if it's just a little thing.

[Darksheare]

LOL!!

[Darksheare]

*chuckle*

It's pretty bad when King has a typo show up.
Usually right after we've been speaking.

[MeekOneGOP]

haha! :^D

[dfwright]

It makes me feel like I'm doing something... even if it's just a little thing.

Our thoughts exactly. We don't have any family currently serving in a combat zone, but we wanted to do something at least. The only bad thing you can say about it is that it is ADDICTING.. lol!

[Darksheare]

I've also seen my personal typo 'teh' rub off on people right after they've been in the same thread as I.
I think I saw one of teh mods do 'teh' the other day.
Not sure, but I think I saw that typo show up.

[international american]

King Trout??

[Tax-chick]

Nice cats!

[Darksheare]

LOL!

[MeekOneGOP]

I've also seen my personal typo 'teh' rub off on people right after they've been in the same thread as I.

haha! I do that one too often, myself. When using MS Word, it 'fixes' it for me. But here on FR, what I type is what I get. :^D

[Darksheare]

Unnngh, Word, had that 'fix' some things for me that I'd actually wanted in there.
I typed a word I'd invented, and it kept changing it to whatever it felt I wanted.
*grrr*

[MeekOneGOP]

I know what you mean. I noticed that too and figured out a 'workaround' for those intentionally misspelled words.

Let it fix it for you and type a few words beyond. Then, go back and 'fix' the word to the corrupted spelling you desire. After typing the last letter in the word, hit the "End" key instead of the space key and resume your typing.