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Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 02:06 PM Sep 2020

My 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.


"And what is your lasting memory of Iraq?"

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.
33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My Kind of "Sucker and Loser". (Original Post) Solly Mack Sep 2020 OP
K&R chowder66 Sep 2020 #1
Thank you, Solly Mack. And thank your husband, for the amazing people you are. I am so proud niyad Sep 2020 #12
Thank you, niyad. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #27
There are simply no words. flamin lib Sep 2020 #2
Ohhhh, there are PLENTY of words for the draft-dodging traitor-in-chief. But most of them would niyad Sep 2020 #13
There are no words, you're right. To heal. Time only does so much and Trump is incapable Solly Mack Sep 2020 #26
... Nevilledog Sep 2020 #3
And to you Solly Mack Sep 2020 #25
so very sad, peacebuzzard Sep 2020 #4
Exactly that. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #24
Your husband Kitchari Sep 2020 #5
I think so. I just don't tell him that too often. He was already spoiled rotten when I met him. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #23
A beautiful elegy to that young girl and to your husband. War is a tragedy. Layered on sickness it's erronis Sep 2020 #6
It is all that and worse. The very worst. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #22
Trump voters are suckers!nt Trueblue Texan Sep 2020 #7
Bingo. Sogo Sep 2020 #8
Yes, so true. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #21
my dad never spoke of his war time experiences but he was the nicest guy. demigoddess Sep 2020 #9
You should be bias. That was your Dad. :) Solly Mack Sep 2020 #20
Amen. benfranklin1776 Sep 2020 #10
Nothing noble about war. But from time to time people remember their humanity, if they're lucky. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #19
I totally agree. His act was what was noble. benfranklin1776 Sep 2020 #28
How lucky you are. What a kind man. blueinredohio Sep 2020 #11
He really is a kind man. I was raised to help others. He wasn't - wasn't within his family dynamic. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #18
courage, selflessness and sacrifice, 3 words tRump and his fellow fascists will never understand. nt yaesu Sep 2020 #14
Trump only serves Trump. He expects everyone else to serve him as well. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #17
My husband still won't talk much AwakeAtLast Sep 2020 #15
Every now and then mine will say something and notice I'm stunned. He will say, "I told you that" Solly Mack Sep 2020 #16
I hope he talks to someone. Those of us with broken chromosomes tend to withdraw flamin lib Sep 2020 #29
He has been for years now. Group and individual. Solly Mack Sep 2020 #30
... flamin lib Sep 2020 #31
Heartquakes as I read samplegirl Sep 2020 #32
I'm fond of him. :) Solly Mack Sep 2020 #33

niyad

(112,440 posts)
12. Thank you, Solly Mack. And thank your husband, for the amazing people you are. I am so proud
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 04:49 PM
Sep 2020

to know "losers and suckers" like you.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
27. Thank you, niyad.
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 08:55 AM
Sep 2020


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.

niyad

(112,440 posts)
13. Ohhhh, there are PLENTY of words for the draft-dodging traitor-in-chief. But most of them would
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 04:52 PM
Sep 2020

net me a visit from the suits. May he and all his enablers and supporters rot in hell.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
26. There are no words, you're right. To heal. Time only does so much and Trump is incapable
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 08:51 AM
Sep 2020

of helping anyone. He only knows how to tear people down.

erronis

(14,955 posts)
6. A beautiful elegy to that young girl and to your husband. War is a tragedy. Layered on sickness it's
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 03:09 PM
Sep 2020

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.

benfranklin1776

(6,427 posts)
10. Amen.
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 04:32 PM
Sep 2020

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)
19. Nothing noble about war. But from time to time people remember their humanity, if they're lucky.
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 08:45 AM
Sep 2020

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)
28. I totally agree. His act was what was noble.
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 09:34 AM
Sep 2020

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 it’s 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. 🤗

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
18. He really is a kind man. I was raised to help others. He wasn't - wasn't within his family dynamic.
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 08:41 AM
Sep 2020

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.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
16. Every now and then mine will say something and notice I'm stunned. He will say, "I told you that"
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 08:34 AM
Sep 2020

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)
29. I hope he talks to someone. Those of us with broken chromosomes tend to withdraw
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 09:45 AM
Sep 2020

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)
30. He has been for years now. Group and individual.
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 09:53 AM
Sep 2020

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.

samplegirl

(11,415 posts)
32. Heartquakes as I read
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 10:10 AM
Sep 2020

this Solly Mack😢 There is little to say or think about a person that does not value human life. We’ve 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)
33. I'm fond of him. :)
Sun Sep 6, 2020, 11:25 AM
Sep 2020

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.

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