war is harmful to children and other living things

[primroseburrows]

I usually don't like news stories that are broadcast just for sentiment factor. This one is an exception, because it shows what kids of soldiers are going through.

This story is obviously meant to show a happy homecoming, and it does, but it also shows the trauma the kids have had. I mean, just look at the expression on that little kid's face. Kids that little don't usually cry when they're happy, they cry when they're in pain. I can't even imagine what level of pain these little ones are in, and that's just the kids of the soldiers who come home outside of a box.

*screams at Dubya* See that, you cretin? THIS is what you're doing to American kids (and Iraqi kids, but that's a whole new level of tragedy). Honestly, how do you sleep?

Comments

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I basically posted it for the OMGWTF DUBYA? factor. It's a happy reunion, but wtf in a school? With cameras? :/

There's no way that boy was crying with happiness. It was relief, yeah, but he was Upset.

And y'know, as much as I hate, hate war, if it were a war that actually made some kind of sense, I wouldn't feel quite as bad (although I think WW2 is the last one that had any reasonable, erm. Reason). If we were, oh, I dunno, actually LOOKING FOR BIN LADEN? I could understand that. Sort of. I just hate it all. Ick.

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a war to prevent a mushroom cloud, liberate the grateful Iraqis, make Halliburton rich at the expense of hundreds of thousands of lives is hard to get behind. And still, it's all kind of unreal until you see something like that little boy and imagine what his face would look like if his mom told him daddy wasn't coming home.

Sorry. I've been reading Noam Chomsky for the first time, and it's depressing me.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Sorry. I've been reading Noam Chomsky for the first time, and it's depressing me.

Have you read Howard Zinn?

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

Nope. Should I? Or should I wait until Chomsky's effect wears off?

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I haven't read much Chomsky (shame on me!).A Peoples' History of the United States is his best-known work. I recommend it highly. Here's a list of his online works, and this is his website.

I had the opportunity to hear him speak a couple of years back. He's going to be in Newport, RI this month (which I just found out, go you for asking about him!). I'll be there if I can, because he's a great speaker. When you go see Howard Zinn, you take notes because you want to remember everything. I used to have a HZ icon, even. *g* Yes, I'm a Howard Zinn fangirl. \0/

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

*puts Howard Zinn on reading list*

I will watch for his appearances here. You never know. We get speakers from across the border quite often.

Chomsky has a way of making everything seem clear, and completely hopeless at the same time. I'm reading Hegemony or Survival.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Dude. You guys got Howard Dean as keynote for the Liberal leadership convention, which I've never quite figured out, although I have my usual Stupid American Opinions.