Families of slain, wounded troops fear sacrifices will be forgotten

[Doondoo]

Families watch with concern as the political fights drive the reports of more deaths of Marines and soldiers off the front page. They know that behind each military funeral, each maimed warrior, the pain and grief of war extends outward in ever-widening ripples, forever reshaping the lives of parents, spouses and children.

.......

The families see that the rest of America remains untouched by the war. And that the service their children gave to the nation tends to fade away as the stories out of Iraq and Afghanistan become simply a box score in the media on how many died that day.

There is some validity to their concerns, said Adrian Lewis, a historian at the University of North Texas. The burden of military life falls on 1 percent of the population, while 41 percent of the officer corps comes from eight southern states, he writes in his book The American Culture of War.

"Iraq is not a national war. We have as a society relegated national defense to a minority of Americans," he said. "The rest of the country can take comfort that volunteers will take care of the dirty work while we get on with our lives."


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/021807dntexwarsacrifice.1ee8a16.html

[Turbineguy]

1. They'll certainly be forgotten

by Bush as soon as he gets a new comic book!

[sam sarrha]

2. THAT IS WHY THE WET BRAIN ALCOHOLIC DRUG ADDICT WONT ALLOW PHOTOS OF SOLDIERS COFFINS

[malaise]

5. Apparently many of these families supported Bush

and his refusal to show coffins. Maybe instead of listening to Rush, they should have read a little history on the treatment of Vets from previous wars. They might have shipped their kids to Canada or wherever.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Perhaps you should check facts

being married to a retired Navy Chief I can tell you this for sure

The armed forces is as divided politically as the rest of the nation

Some of these folks suported Bush, even less of them still do. But the declarative statememt you just made is pure Rush propaganda.

The military is NOT behind the CiC, or Republicans

In fact, officers tend to be republican after Captain that is

While enlisted tend to be mostly Dems... carrer people treded a little to the right, but not to the numbers that some in the Pubbie party wish to tell you

Here is the best test for this talking point

2000, they were glad to use soldiers and say, but they voted and we should count their votes! (Never mind some of them were late)

By 2004 you heard neery a peep of how the troops voted, care to know why?

My husband's last command voted mostly for Kerry, that is why.

So stop repeating talking points, it gets old after a while.

Oh and just like after Nam when the troops looked at the Republican party since the Dem house stopped funding the war, the GOP has lost the military for at least a generation, if not two.

[malaise]

15. Good to hear

but why aren't parents pulling their kids out of the military given the treatment of Vets.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Pray tell me how a parent can pull his or her

kid out of the military?

The kids are ADULTS in all the senses of the word and when they sign the contract they belong to uncle sam. There is nothing a parent can do about it

The contract is legally binding, the military IS NOT High School

[malaise]

17. How can being deployed to fight an illegal war and

occupation be legally binding.

[tularetom]

3. This is exactly why this clusterfuck should have been opposed

right from the start. Anyone with a brain in their head knew it would end badly, and it would be tough for the survivors of those who gave their lives in support of it to accept the fact that it was all for nothing in the first place. I don't blame them for being concerned. I'd be pissed and I suspect these families will be too as the truth begins to dawn. I only hope they get pissed at the assholes who caused their loved ones to be sacrificed for, well, basically nothing.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Yes, but, in return, you get to feel morally superior

It's a fair deal.

I'd feel worse if the vast majority of you didn't vote Republican no matter how badly you're getting screwed by the GOP. Maybe Bush has fucked up so badly that will finally change things.

<"Three or four years ago, I was a staunch Republican and a gung-ho Marine mom, supporting the war," Ms. Schick said. "Now, all I can think about is how we can keep these kids home. How much is enough?">

I'm too old and cynical to think that this is anything more than a temporary mood swing among the military constituency. They like to think they're the tough ones, but they've always proven vulnerable to openly emotional appeals from the right, and, if experience is any guide, they'll still be pulling the Pubbie lever in 2008, 2012 and beyond.

[Downtown Hound]

6. Well, that's what happens when you

rely on a bunch of religious nutjobs, corporate executives, flag-waving morons, and anti-gay, anti-Muslim bigots for the base of your support. They will use you up and cast you out like a used chicken bone, all the while telling you how much they love you.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Relegated defense to a minority of Americans?

True. But the only way I see to "share the burden (or the honor)" is to re-activate the draft.

Which problem is better?

As to the forgotten dead and disabled, yeah, we don't remember them all, just the ones close to us. Visitors with relatives on the Vietnam wall, generally go straight to that panel to get a rubbing of that name. Mostly ignoring the rest, except for taking in the vista.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. War, what war? The country has not been touched by the

insanity at all

Draft? Nope

Air raid Drills, nope

go shop, yep that was the answer from our fearless leader, and the people have listened, and they don't give a fuck about troops

They will only care when there is a draft and the war finally comes home, or the Iranian misadventure ends with an invasion of the continental US... otherwise, forget it!

[Rydz777]

11. Draft

You're right. For most Americans the war is just another show on TV, although the production values are not as good as on the Military Channel. Charlie Rangel is right about a draft in terms of equity. The political impact might also preclude future careless-stupid-arrogant-braindead adventures like the one Bush has brought us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Reach for the fire proof suit

I agree with you and Rangel, but many around here don't

Oh and welcome to DU

[goforit]

9. The 911 victims have already been forgotton. No investigation!!!

[Doondoo]

13. kick

[Homer Wells]

14. 3200+ commas is a Helluva lot of PUNCTUATION

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RIP, My Brothers and Sisters:cry:

(edited to attempt to post all 3200+ commas.) Didn't happen:-(