2) It affirms my belief in true love, and I fail to see hot it's creepy or funny (wtf #5?), and

3) I agree w/ #1 that, not only the Pres, but everyone in this country needs to see the aftermath of this war (and, of course, not just the aftermath for Americans but also for Iraqi citzens), and on a daily basis - it's disgusting how consumer life seems to just float on uninterupted by the fact that the US is involved in 2 wars at the moment (and contemplating a third).

Anger gave way to pity. Without knowing any back story and looking at this particular picture it just doesn't look happy at all.

Then I looked at the series, or at least some of them, and pity turned to envy. Love is an amazing thing.

I always come back to angry though.

Fucking tragic.

breaking...

arbusesque

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/us/01charles.html?ex=1172811600&en=c3b2ea9b66965bcd&ei=5070

The journal will have to speak for Charles now. He was killed Oct. 14 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his armored vehicle in Baghdad. Charles, 48, had been assigned to the Army’s First Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Tex. He was a month from completing his tour of duty.

For our son’s first Christmas, Charles had hoped to take him on a carriage ride through Central Park. Instead, Jordan, now 9 months old, and I snuggled under a blanket in a horse-drawn buggy. The driver seemed puzzled about why I was riding alone with a baby and crying on Christmas Day. I told him.

“No charge,” he said at the end of the ride, an act of kindness in a city that can magnify loneliness.

One of the miracles of modern medicine is that a whole lot of soldiers survive battlefield injuries that killed most soldiers in previous wars. The man in these photos would certainly have died of injuries like that in WW II, and would even likely have died of such injuries during the Vietnam era. But now modern medicine can save a lot of guys who suffer horrific battlefield injuries. And when they do, they are of course NOT counted among the dead. It gives the illusion that things aren't as bad as they could be, because we aren't hearing about as many dead soldiers as we did during Vietnam. Partly, this is because some of them aren't dying, they end up like this guy.

I've been appalled to read articles over the last couple of weeks of reprehensible treatment of wounded vets by the military. Poor treatment in general. Ignoring post traumatic stress syndrome. Pushing wounded vets out of the military without providing long term care for their injuries. This is a disgusting predicament. These men (and some women) didn't give their lives, but some of them gave their limbs, and will live with life long disfigurements and pain, and our government owes them better treatment for that.

I work on behalf of veterans and active duty service members which has forced me to develop a thick emotional skin against the injustices I have to witness every week. This picture, and the background I dug up after seeing it, have me crying at my desk.

I never supported the war, never had an interest in the military or veterans, and never would have guessed that I'd end up doing this work. I question why I do this and think about moving on every day.

A picture and story like this reminds me why I haven't given up yet...

If anyone reading about their story feels like they need to do something to help, do some research on the Fisher House. The local VA hospital is trying to raise money for one up on Beacon Hill but they aren't even close to having enough money. The Fisher House provides a place for the families of severely injured service members to stay while their loved one is going through the often long recovery process. Ty's story shows how much of a difference it can make to have your family nearby.

The bride's face here is tragic. It may not be true - a camera can catch a moment's glance that misrepresents the whole person's attitude - but even if she is and will be happy (who knows? We just have photos), but the shell-shock in her face is just TRUE in a more general sense.

The bride reminds me of my cousin. Her gaze may stay with me forever.

It amazes me that, with the heaps of money being spent on this war and the billions that are lining the pockets of Bush cronies, our government is trying to nickel and dime wounded soldiers to death.

What. The. Fuck?

This isn't a miracle.

It's a horror.

I cannot imagine a punishment gruesome enough to fit his crimes.

Sorry the post was pulled down last night. As you can see it's back up now. On a related note: I'm an idiot.

However, I'm pleased to see that Slog did obtain permission after the fact and the photo is posted. There is so much more to this couple's story, their own unique courage. It's most timely in light of ABC reporter Bob Woodruff 'To Iraq and Back' special that aired this week (read more at Washblog). Woodruff was injured while covering Iraq. His special does an amazing job of calling attention to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It's well worth seeing, and if didn't see it on tv this week, it is available to view online.

In light of what you see in Nina Berman's photos, and in Bob Woodruff special 'To Iraq and Back' there is all the more powerful reason to look at our Senators and Congress Representatives and ask them how they can condone funding such an atrocious war.

http://www.thetrukstop.com/articles/2007/story_behind_the_photo.html