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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy Kind of "Sucker and Loser".
In June of 2005 I wrote a piece about the invasion of Iraq. The article was titled "The Line of Denial". In it I shared some of the questions I asked my husband, now a retired Vet, about his experiences in Iraq, as well as the war crimes, sanctioned by the President, and the troops who committed them.
Below is an excerpt.
The little girl.
The little girl had leprosy. He met her early on. Her disease was so advanced she was dying from non-treatment. In her entire short life, she got next to no treatment. My husband carried her dying body, along with her mother and father, through three cities seeking help for her. He couldn't find it. Iraqi doctors too scared or wanting money (to survive with) and American medics not concerned.
He finally reached into his wallet, took out all his cash, then gave it to an Iraqi doctor. The doctor helped the child die comfortably because that's all they could do for her by then.
That's what my husband brought home. That's what he remembers most about Iraq.
If that's a "Loser", then it's my kind of loser.
Fuck Trump. Fuck all Republicans. Fuck their voters.
chowder66
(9,011 posts)niyad
(112,440 posts)to know "losers and suckers" like you.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)We're fairly standard, flawed, and boring people. We both agree on giving to others is all. Helping others. Brightening a day. We get ever so much more back.
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)Not for your husband and not for the disrespect from the White House.
niyad
(112,440 posts)net me a visit from the suits. May he and all his enablers and supporters rot in hell.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)of helping anyone. He only knows how to tear people down.
Nevilledog
(50,687 posts)Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)peacebuzzard
(5,124 posts)that level of desperation is very deep.
that burns.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Thank you, peacebuzzard
Kitchari
(2,157 posts)Is a beautiful human being
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)erronis
(14,955 posts)a horror.
A man made horror. Saying that because the bastards tend to be the ones that want to inflict misery and death on others.
Being an XY person, I hope that science can cure this propensity to inflict suffering. I'll take that vaccine.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Trueblue Texan
(2,372 posts)Soooo true....!
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)demigoddess
(6,640 posts)yes, I'm prejudiced.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)benfranklin1776
(6,427 posts)These acts are the best of humanity on display and the antithesis of the depraved, sociopathic evil of Trump and his cultists.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)When he left I told him to remember his humanity. He said everyone else is saying be careful or don't get hurt or die. I said that, too. But first and most importantly, remember your humanity.
I didn't want him to die but the loss of your humanity is its own kind of death. Just takes longer and causes more long term suffering.
benfranklin1776
(6,427 posts)You are quite right war robs people of their essential humanity which is why it should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Those who have been in war mostly are the ones who hate it the worst but the keyboard warriors who have never served are its biggest cheerleaders 📣 I am glad you reminded him of holding on to his basic humanity. That undoubtedly kept him grounded like nothing else could. Thank you and he. 🤗
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)That story made me cry.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Still, kindness and generosity is very much his nature. Just never mistake it for weakness. Lot of anger behind his need to help others. Not at those who need help. But the why of it all.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)AwakeAtLast
(14,112 posts)But I know he will, one day.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Nothing he did. Something he saw. But he never told me. Just thought he did.
It's been that way since he got back. (2004)
He still has nightmares of that little girl. From all of it. Bolts awake. Eyes wide. Ready for something. Just never sure what.
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)and hide our pain. I know the VA has an active outreach but getting into the system can be difficult.
It's easy for me and others to say there's no shame in asking for support but it's a deeply ingrained, almost genetic trait.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)But he'll see a little girl that reminds him of that little girl and have a bad sleep. Some trigger along the way. That kind of thing.
It's way better than it was in the early days.
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)samplegirl
(11,415 posts)this Solly Mack😢 There is little to say or think about a person that does not value human life. Weve seen this with their gun stance and healthcare and now this pandemic.
Republicans are the rottenest people walking the planet.
Your husband must be an amazing man❤️
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Trump values Trump. That's it. As much as he sees Ivanka as his best creation among his children, if she had to go or he had to go, he'd kick Ivanka out with no regrets.
Trump doesn't love any of his children. They are merely extension of his ego. Extension of him, his self, but lesser.
Parts he doesn't like - Eric, Tiffany. Somehow, they remind him of his own weaknesses and he resents that as he denies he has any.
Parts he's obligated to - Jr.. Firstborn male, namesake, and all the BS patriarchy tied up in that.
The part he adores, Ivanka. And he adores her only because he feels she is a reflection of all things he finds great about himself.
Barron is the unknown, for now. He honestly appears to be her child, Melania's, more than his. Not that that is much better. Interesting that they give him the name of one of Trump's personas though. Telling, to my thinking.