I can't stand to listen.

[Kimber Scott]

With my daughter-in-law on her way to Iraq and my son just back from Afghanistan I have to say this conversation about "transfer tubes" and body bags is too painful to listen to. I'm making myself listen, but I have to think many parents and mainstream Americans can't listen to this stuff, either. We don't want to look at pictures of burnt-up people, or children with pieces of themselves blown off. I don't know what the answer is, but I'm afraid this will make people shut this stuff out even more than they have already. What can we do, to get the answer out without scaring everybody into hiding even further from the truth? I don't know. I just don't know. Am I making any sense?

[Qanisqineq]

1. Yes, you are making sense

and I think you are right. However, I became just the opposite way. With my husband in Iraq, the mounting deaths just pissed me off more and more and made me want to see it all so I wouldn't forget.

Good luck to your daughter-in-law. My husband came back last week.

[Kimber Scott]

6. Thank you and congratulations on your husband's safe return!

I understand what you are saying. I just don't know if I can get any more pissed off than I am without having to be committed somewhere.

[bobbieinok]

2. yes you're making lots of sense, unfortunately

but it's the claim that US public only turned against the VN when they saw the reality daily on TV

so no US wars have been on TV the same way

[Malva Zebrina]

3. we are leaves being tossed about in the wind by those who have the

power and the wealth. It has become almost intolerable.

I don't know what the solution is, I only know that it is beginning to feel as if it is out of control and we the common man, the victim.

Perhaps the solution is to storm the hardware stores, buy pitchforks and shovels and storm the White House or the Penatagon.

We have had the power taken from us--the only thing left is a total disobedience. We do not have money and we do not have power--what we do have, it seems, is our children, and they are being sacrificed in order that the rich, the powerful and the evil, become richer, more powerful and more evil

Do not offer up your children any longer to the military and the killing machine of America. Teach peace.

[DarkPhenyx]

4. I keep watching looking for my friends...

...and hoping I don't see them. I know I have friends and many of my old troops in Iraq and Afganistan. This is in addition to the people much closer to me that are there.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. You are making sense but this is the point of VietNam

It wasn't the protests that ended the war (although I am not discrediting the protesters) as it was the GRAPHIC imagery of the war on during the evening news at dinner time...that slowly turned Americans against the war as causalties rose.

The fact that military personnel who are injured must CLEAR their statements at Walter Reed before speaking to the press is unnerving..especially when the Resident goes on TV claiming we are hated for our freedoms.

Since you have someone there, you might need to turn it off or change the channel, but it NEEDS to be in the face of ordinary Americans on a daily basis...the REAL costs of war need to be driven home like a reality TV show...not swept under the carpet while we watch SURVIVOR.

[Kimber Scott]

8. I agree, but as long as it comes from the fringes of

journalism, it will never be taken for anything more than shock tactics. The truth - shock tactics. Imagine that. Where's Life Magazine when you need them? Seems like they were able to show us the truth in a way that made us mad, but didn't make us turn away.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. That's why a liberal radio network is a great idea

It pushes issues into the mainstream that require evaluation by generating public interest.

[harrison]

7. As I see it, the wealthy, by dividing and conquering, the rest of us

maintain control in this country. Then when something blows up and a demand is made to investigate, the folks in charge appoint Warren Commissions and 911 Commissions to convince us that they are getting to the bottom of things. So, Thomas Kean is on the board of directors with a bin laden. No conflict there.

So, John Kerry, of the 911 Commission, says on the new liberal talk network that there is nothing to Ashcroft flying a private jet in the summer of 2001 because of the terrorist threat. NOthing to that story.

So, Lee Hamilton, who has traditionally covered for the Bushes, co chairs the 911 commission from the Democratic side.

Our best hope is something like DU, where people are willing to call the powerful down, be they democrats or republicans. 42,000 and growing. 42,000 people can make a difference by just trying to talk with one or two people, who will talk with one or two people. And on and on.

That's our best hope.

[Mari333]

9. I think the only way to save My kid, and all our kids

is to make the rest of the US public see what they dont want to see.
I had a major breakdown this morning when I saw the pictures of the charred bodies, and my husband fell down, his knees buckled because that could be Michael tomorrow.
But the US public doesnt care about you, or me, or Michael, or the soldiers, because they dont see a damned thing. They just dont care.
Until they see it, they will go on not caring.
Its time they saw it. I already saw it, I dont need to see it again.
Its time the public saw the full hell they support when they defend this fake war.
In fact, its long overdue.
It might very well SHORTEN the war and save our loved ones if people wake up.
(((hugs))))

[Ilsa]

10. I was worried about you this morning,

Mari. I'm central std time, and this morning's news freaked me really bad. I had a dental hygiene appt, and she took my BP and found it still sky-high over the deaths this morning. I can't imagine how hard it is for those who have to wait for news (or no news) after such a horrific day. So I did my part and told the hygienist we have almost 600 (I think one site said 599), and she was shocked. She didn't know. They only know that gas is high and to expect it to go higher, and it seems like that's all they care about. Another deal was that the local Guard QM unit has returned home, so in the minds of the locals, there isn't a war any more.

Just rambling now...

[Mari333]

11. My BP went up really bad and I had major panic attack and

my husband buckled badly. I had to pick him up off the floor.
I took some Xanax, sat down, and called every senator and congressman I knew, crying, and then I called Nightline and ABC and then I did an interview with SF Chronicle and missed my job interview I had today and postponed it. Then I got an email from Michael that he was okay.
I dont know if we can do this til November or December and make it thru. Im especially concerned about the June 30 deadline and the escalating violence against the soldiers.

[Kimber Scott]

18. I hope you're feeling better now.

Just pray. Hard. I'll be praying for you and your family, too.

[Carni]

12. I am really sorry for your personal situation with your DI

And I mean that and can fully understand why what you are describing would be offensive to you,

BUT....

The way I see it, the rest of the selfish idiots in this country that don't care who's stuck serving in Iraq, NEED to be scared.

Honestly? I think that the Joe blow person who doesn't have a relative over there could care less, as long as they can drive their SUV, get their so called tax cut and act like a big shooter...
they just don't give a damn and IMO the reality of what our service people and their families are facing should be jammed right down their throats (as well as up their asses) on a continual basis until they "get it"

They may outwardly tune out...but they can't tune out their subconscious as they sleep and this truly, is the stuff of nightmares!

Again, I am sorry for your personal sacrifice to this asshole's power exploits in the middle east and my best to you and your family! :)

[Mari333]

13. I live in a small GOP town and I have had people come up to me

and say , at our peace vigil for the dead soldiers
' WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT THE WAR IS OVER AND THE PEOPLE LIKE US THERE?'
and when I tell them about Michaels emails telling me how they are being mortared and angry crowds grow larger by the day where he is, they look at me and walk away and are in total denial.

[Kimber Scott]

17. I don't think offensive is really the word.

It just hurts, is all.

[Mari333]

15. Kimber I also want to let you know this

www.motherspeak.org please contact Susan if you want to..she wants your story, mine is already there its a good place to let out your feelings. Her son is in Iraq. You arent alone, truly.
I had to go get light Xanax or I cant function, its the only thing that helps me function thru the major panic attacks Im having everyday.
I see a doc tomorrow to get a check up to see if Im going to survive this at my age.
motherspeak, a few of us are thinking of going to Iraq or meeting with some Iraqi mothers and fathers to form a peace outreach to the Iraqi families, and if you want to be part of that, I just talked to a SF Chronicle guy today about it.
My god, you have already been thru this once, now you have to go thru it again. Those bastards those fucking bastards .
I have a feeling at this point Im in for the long haul past November when Michael supposedly comes home, and he might be sent back..add to that, Susans kid is supposed to come home in 2 weeks and they seem to be keeping him, she just emailed me.
The military parents are being treated like total SHIT.
((((Kimber)))) dont watch the footage anymore, I cant see it again but maybe it will wake up the idiots in the US public.

[Kimber Scott]

16. Thank you, Mari.

All of this is so unbelievable to me. I feel like I've been living in the twilight zone for the last 30 months, or so. I guess the whole country has. Those of us that give us shit, anyway. Everybody else seems to just be standing around with their pompoms cheering for these assholes in the White House.

I appreciate the offer of going to Iraq, but that's the last place I want to be. My husband and my other son's wouldn't let me go, anyway. (I mean, if I really wanted to, they'd have to let me go. But, I couldn't do that to them, if I wanted to.)

I watched this little "puff piece" on Iraqi hospitals the other day where they showed how the hospital shelves used to be empty of medicine and how nice it is now they have medicine and I surprised myself by screaming, "I don't give a shit! There are hospitals all over the world that don't have medicine. People are dying in African countries by the millions because they don't have AIDS medicine, but we don't go BOMB them now do we?" I'm sick, I tell you. SICK. Poor peoples of Africa, if you had oil, you'd could be lucky and we would bomb you too. We'd save you from yourselves and your evil dictators.

Anyway, thank you all for listening to me and I know people will need to see the truth before they believe it. "Shock and awe" isn't all about pretty little mushroom clouds glowing in the night, now is it?

There should be a law. If you send other people's children to war, you must send your own, too.

Fucking Bush Bastards.