News from the home front
My friend who was wounded in Iraq is now home and in good shape; he came up from the fort to visit this past weekend. He sports a formidable scar and is still swimming in prescriptions but all in all looks well and should be well healed up very soon.
One almost forgets how long it has been since one has seen a long-absent individual. Suddenly they are back and physically tangible and standing in front of you, and you can't think of the length of time that they have been gone. But it doesn't matter anymore because against all odds, they are there.
He spoke a little about his experiences, everything from the usual missions and activities up until the ambush. We normal folk cannot imagine the sand and the heat and the sound of artillery thumping overhead. We cannot imagine the RPG's screaming, nor the crackle of rifle fire. We cannot imagine sitting one moment in a gun turret, and lying in the bottom of the truck slowly going numb the next. We cannot imagine the look of our own blood on our hands and the surreal loss of sensation and orientation as our bodies fight against the shock. We cannot imagine standing before a crowd later and reliving that moment in speech to those who we know will not fully understand the life-and-death instincts of the moment.
I have little respect for our government and the way that they are handling (quote unquote) the situation in the Middle East. The men and women who are actually over there and attempting to fulfill their mission are those who deserve our respect and support. Officially we proclaimed the conflict resolved on May 1st. That's bullshit.
Open your eyes.
My friend who was wounded in Iraq is now home and in good shape; he came up from the fort to visit this past weekend. He sports a formidable scar and is still swimming in prescriptions but all in all looks well and should be well healed up very soon.
One almost forgets how long it has been since one has seen a long-absent individual. Suddenly they are back and physically tangible and standing in front of you, and you can't think of the length of time that they have been gone. But it doesn't matter anymore because against all odds, they are there.
He spoke a little about his experiences, everything from the usual missions and activities up until the ambush. We normal folk cannot imagine the sand and the heat and the sound of artillery thumping overhead. We cannot imagine the RPG's screaming, nor the crackle of rifle fire. We cannot imagine sitting one moment in a gun turret, and lying in the bottom of the truck slowly going numb the next. We cannot imagine the look of our own blood on our hands and the surreal loss of sensation and orientation as our bodies fight against the shock. We cannot imagine standing before a crowd later and reliving that moment in speech to those who we know will not fully understand the life-and-death instincts of the moment.
I have little respect for our government and the way that they are handling (quote unquote) the situation in the Middle East. The men and women who are actually over there and attempting to fulfill their mission are those who deserve our respect and support. Officially we proclaimed the conflict resolved on May 1st. That's bullshit.
Open your eyes.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home