Murmur, Instigate, CLAMOR!!
Geez, that's scary. Glad to hear he's okay. But man oh man.
The rest of this is unreal, but totally believable, unfortunately. We're hearing more and more of this stuff all the time. The older brother of one of my students just rotated back for the THIRD time. While he was home, he told her that every week he feels closer to the time when he will be killed. That's a lot for a 14 year old to hear from her big brother...
On graduation day this spring, one of my former students came back for a visit. He left the middle school four years ago, and had recently graduated high school. The very next day, he was scheduled to be on a plane to head west, to start basic training with the Marines. Which means that this time next year, he'll be in Iraq.
I encourage you all to visit here:
http://www.noiraqescalation.org/
I know it isn't a very Quakerly way to put this, but this shit has to end.
Mini meltdown? MINI meltdown!?! I would have been freaking out from top to bottom. The only saving grace is that helicopters 'go down' not that infrequently for relatively innocuous reasons - they're complicated creatures prone to minor mechanical failure. And capable of making emergency landings in most cases, BTW.
All this so Mr. Heavily Compensating, aka the empty codpiece can be the wartime president. Shame on him.
Wow. Glad to hear he's OK, but the rest of the post is so utterly disturbing.
That C.O. should be reprimanded from here to hell and back for saying something like that to men who have been at the Front. Not only saying that, but what a poor management practice; to bring home front line troops so stateside troops can have a vacation?
It's so bad. I just heard on CNN that there were 101 suicides in the Army during 2006.
Thus far, I don't have anyone close to me who has been there. I can only imagine how you must have felt about your nephew's close call.
i am happy to hear your nephew survived the helicopter incident.
i am kind of stunned that any base official would let state-side soldiers off base and keep returning iraq-stationed soldiers on the base to work. i mean it is so freakin' illogical. how can those stateside soldiers who got the leave instead even look at theirselves in a mirror?
Logic? Where does THAT come into play in ANY of this?
BTW, I really like that last bit.
NOT ONE MORE DAY!
NOT ONE MORE DOLLALR!
NOT ONE MORE DEATH!
BRING 'EM HOME NOW!!!
It sounds like the chant of a crowd at a protest rally. I really like protests, they bring people together in a way the blogosphere doesn't.
More protests going on in Gainesville, Florida every day. And we're a bit off the beaten path.
Thank God your Nephew is okay, Rev. If my nephew were over there... I'm not going to finish that sentence.
It's shameful how our troops are treated. George Bush is a disgrace - a pathetic piece of merde!
I know it isn't a very Quakerly way to put this, but this shit has to end.
Quakerdave | Homepage | 08.15.07 - 6:26 pm | #
I am of the very strong opinion that war crimes and illegal occupation are larger crimes than "non Quakerly" language.
OK, this post is so upsetting. It is the real human face of the occupation, the misadministration, the exploitation of our military.
I'm so beyond outrage.
I'm at the point where I am too pissed of to curse.
RevP, my thoughts are with your family. In how many families must this drama be played out? How many people must go through this?
Not one more!
This shit goes on all the time, it's unreal. My sister is a Major in the Army Reserve, and a dietitian at the VA hospital closest to Crawford, TX. You would not believe the stories she tells. Reservists who have worked for her for a decade, but who once had a truck driver MOS are getting activated and sent over there. Two years ago, she was told she was getting activated, then two weeks later, "oh, never mind". Soldiers literally sitting on the tarmac, ready to fly to Iraq, then, "oh, never mind, orders cancelled". Her hubby's a retired active army Major, combat vet of the first Gulf war, and can't believe it either, the shit that is going on. It's a complete cluster fuck.
My thoughts also go out to your family, RevP.
Nice to see those triangles, green.
Thanks for the words of support everybody. SBT, yeah could only afford a mini meltdown as I was on my way to an appointment and I have to be emotionally available my parishoners. Had to wait until last night to really let go. But I did use our calling tree to let everyone know what happened and to get everyone praying.
And speaking of protests...there's one scheduled for 9/15, just in time for Patreaus' - no make that Bush's - progress report. Here's the website button, if I could impose on SBT to put it up on our website. I don't trust my skills to do it myself. http://www.pephost.org/site/
News...ws_iv_ctrl=3361
And here's more info about the rally and mass die-in act of civil disobedience - 4,000 will participate to represent soldiers who have died in Bushco's war of choice. http://www.pephost.org/site/News...Article&
id=8553
I sincerely from the bottom of my heart hope he gets to come home and more than that, I wish he could stay at home with his family.
RevPhat,
Your nephew needs to get himself home. Not be brought home.
Or refuse to go back.
He's some sort of adult. He is engaging in war crimes. Soldiers aren't toys.
I know of a Marine who had brain injury as a result of an IED (his gunner was killed).
He was sent back to Iraq after a three week leave.
Will put this up at Crooks in the next couple. Thanks.
How horribile for you, Rev! I would have been in a total meltdown!
Thank heavens he is ok!
Prayers with you and yours Rev.
"Here's the website button, if I could impose on SBT to put it up on our website."
[RevPhat | Homepage | 08.16.07 - 8:25 am]
Done deal.
Thanks, SBT 
smoke!
And Hawk!
And Jump!
Morning, Rev.
It's the real life aspect of this that just kills me. I mean, THIS IS LIFE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
It MUST stop.
Hang in there, Rev!!
Late update to this story: He was on one of two choppers that "went down." That doesn't sound like a mechanical malfunction to me.
Also he said in his email to his dad that "boy did he have some stories to tell." God I hope we get to see him at the end of the month and just hold him.
Part of the Iraq resolution we passed last month at assembly said that we should assist conscientious objectors. You know I'll be doing my part.
Oh, Rev...
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I had the opportunity to meet with my Congresscritter, a Democrat. I told him up front and in no uncertain terms to "bring our kids home. NOW."
He said "We're trying." Then he launched into a spiel about how difficult it was to try and get anything done with Bush in office.
My boy is slated to go back for his third tour. On his first tour, he was seriously injured and had to be medevac'ed to Germany to have his leg put back together. He was given six weeks convalescent leave and then he was sent back to Iraq with a full cast on his leg.
I told that to my Congresscritter and then told him I wanted him and all the other Democrats to stop trying and get to doing, that I didn't vote for him to just try and then to make excuses.
I'm so disgusted with the whole lot of them.
TR | 08.16.07 - 6:17 pm | #
Yeah, me too. "Words, words, I'm so sick of words." Do little without being attached to any real action.
I know there are so many untold stories like yours. Being sent back with a cast just BLOWS MY MIND, and breaks my heart.
May he, and all of them, come home soon.
Time to end the occupation... Long past time!
Not be too snarky, and not that I really want to see anyone's son or daughter shipped off to fight in Iraq...
BUT.
I see where Jenna Bush is getting hitched. And I also notice that her fine young gentleman friend isn't wearing a uniform, either...
Just sayin'...
War! I despise
Because it means destruction?
Of innocent lives
War means tears
to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
and lose their lives
War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
War! It's an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest in the younger generation
Induction then destruction-
Who wants to die?
War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! It's got one friend, that's the undertaker
War has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled bitter and mean
Life is much to precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away
War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
Peace Love and Understanding;
tell me, is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way
Right on, Russ.
Geeze I'm glad to hear your nephew's OK. You must have been frantic. My friend's son is over there - my next door neighbor's oldest boy too – and I had friends in the first Gulf War. God almighty - this shit has GOT to end! Every day I wonder if I’m going to lose someone I know and care about.
You are in my thoughts and prayers, my friend - your nephew too. May he come home soon, safe and sound.
What I REALLY DON'T understand is why? why? why? there are still americans who believe in Bushco! The rest of the world sees, we Canadians see, Why is it when I turn on the news that all I see are republican mouth pieces! CNN NBC, ABC, CBS, and well you know the other one FOX Noise.
Stand up! Revolt! This man and all of his CRONIES are ruining your great country and taking the rest of the world with them!! SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!!!
Regards and God help us all,
Bill, A concerned Canadian
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