The Girl Who Tried to Save the World (slain aid worker Marla Ruzicka)

Rolling Stone ^ | 02 June 05 | Janet Reitman

[mmercier]

A sad tale. Her life however stands as a testament to American compassion and our initiative to foment change. This freedom and belief in ones own ability and impact is uniquely American, and is available to each individual.

This country produced a 97 lb. girl who was fearless enough to enter a war zone of her free will and try to help children. Her political views and naivete aside, she acted on her desires, took the initiative, and accepted the risks.

Right or wrong, she will be remembered, and has left a mark on many hearts.

Her life is a testament to the power of a free people to change a savage world. I think Marla Ruzicka understood this power and exercised it to the best of her ability.

[niteowl77]

Lefty Marla actually had the tenacity and courage to go see for herself and guess what? She discovered that terrorists are bad people! Rachel Corrie did the same thing but she became one of the terrorists. There is a difference.

That pretty much says it.

[Little Bill]

She went over there to prove that we were killing "Innocent Civilians", at least according to the stories I read. She got her self dead, as often happens to people in a war zone.

I don't have any feelings about her death one way or another, except that she was another stupid kid paying out of her league, where did her money come from?

[Drew68]

This country produced a 97 lb. girl who was fearless enough to enter a war zone of her free will and try to help children. Her political views and naivete aside, she acted on her desires, took the initiative, and accepted the risks.

Yes, you put things in a good perspective. As you said, what we had was a young woman -little more than a girl really, with little money who somehow managed to get herself to Afghanistan and Iraq to help people with an organization she created (because the one she worked for previously was too far left). This is more than many of the "armchair quaterbacks" on the left and right have done.

One can agree or disagree with her motivations but the fact stands that she created and maintained contacts with US military officials who obviously would have kept her at a much farther distance had she been actively conspiring to damage the image of the US military. Certainly high-ranking officials knew who she was (not a lot of young, blonde California surfer-chicks wandering around Baghdad). It doesn't exactly hurt America's image to have people like Ruzicka over there helping injured civilians. The military knows this and would gladly capitalize on it.

Anyways, I can't help but to admire her dedication and what appeared to be sincere altruism. I only hope her family will be able to cope with their loss.

[freethinker99]

I am a friend of Marla's. I am revolted by how both the left and right have both in almost equal measure claimed and villified her after her death. Marla was a patriot who believed in American soldiers and believed few of them ever wanted to kill an innocent. I can confirm because I have seen the proof that a senior US military official gave her that info. Why is it so amazing to anyone that he would do so? American soldiers are human beings, not just robotic ideologues who want to cover up the bad stuff that has happened. You'd be amazed how many of them hate what's going on right now and hate being a part of it.

Marla Ruzicka is an American heroine and anyone who doesn't think so should get off their keyboard and get out there and do something themselves. How many of you criticS have been to Afghanistan or Iraq? And yes, before you ask, I have been. How many of you have risked your lives to find the truth? Think before you post your bile. Get off your asses and try and change what goes on and then I'll give you some respect.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Get off your asses and try and change what goes on and then I'll give you some respect.

Nope, it's comfy right where I am.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Friend of the deceased ping.

[Constitution Day]

Necro-troll!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Lot of propaganda in the article but it sounds like the women was helping people. This is a tragedy for those folks.

[Admin Moderator]

Get off your asses and try and change what goes on and then I'll give you some respect.

You assume too damn much.

Adios.