Got asked about my D, and my democraticunderground bumper sticker today

I had just gotten out of my car at the local veterinarian hospital to make an appointment for my dog, and a large burly man was going back to his pickup when he saw my stickers. His truck had a Dino rossi, Mccain (without the palin), and a 9/11 sticker. He scoffed, shook his head and asked me "Why would ANYONE put that shit on their car".

I was in a particularly shitty mood that day, not having took my meds in the morning and having had a 'moment' earlier. Immediately the blood rushed to my face; hardly able to contain myself I said, "I see that 9/11 sticker on yours, tell me. What did YOU do for your country after that day?" It was a cruel set up. He replied, "I didnt vote for libtards, so I guess I did more than your lazy ass did."

"No sir. I actually found the weapon of mass destruction. It was an evil Iraqi child, blown to shit by a single .50 cal round on the side of the road in Ramadi. Costs were pretty low too, only took my buddies FUCKING HEAD. HIS WHOLE FUCKING HEAD to get them. I guess thats my reason for the D. Whats your excuse?"

I cant remember what he looked like after I said that, or even if he said anything at all. I was in another place, another country at another time again. It wasnt even particularly brilliant or even coherent what I said. But that was the best I could come up with at the time, and I think I got my point across.


The Iraq war was my coming out to the left side. It was a clusterfuck, an utter nightmare, hellish on all levels and for no good reason. Only that the 1% needed that war money. Which I guess is good enough reason for my best friend to be dead today, and for a poor Iraqi child to never grow old enough to comprehend why he was dead in the first place. I am so ashamed. I didnt kill the kid, I didnt see the person who did but to me it doesnt matter. I may as well have. I am ashamed, and I live with that every day. It is only when I encounter faux patriots, does that shame turn to pure rage.

:cry:

But I can sympathize at least. Which is more than these conservtards can possibly.

I am disturbed and find it difficult to concentrate and to sleep often in regards to morons like this guy who are, in their ignorance, making like worse for not just our country, but in the end the whole world. I can't imagine if I had the baggage you carry as well.

Good for you.

You did a very good and brave thing, confronting that man...

Thank you.

I hope that you will eventually heal...

:hug:

And I'm so sorry about your friend. And that child. And the estimated 1 million dead Iraqis and 5,000 (?) dead Americans. And the ones whose lives will never be the same again.

Welcome to the D side.

:hug:

sending healing vibes you way, my friend. Thanks for sharing that moment.
I cannot imagine what you have witnessed, in the name of the greedy warmongers ....

I'm sorry for what you've been through.
I have a dear friend who has been there too. Thanks for speaking up. I hope he heard you.

I can only try to imagine what war does to a person's head. I just want to give you a big ole hug. I hope you allow yourself to feel peaceful someday.

:kick:

country when it called...even if you didn't believe. Sending healing love your way...and I'm an Agnostic...so that's a lot coming from me. Have mercy on yourself...it wasn't your fault.

Take good care of yourself. You have friends here.

And thank you.

We all are responsible for that kid, your best friend and you.

Tell it like it is Brother.

Only one thing I disagree with: I think what you said was both brilliant and coherent.


Thanks :kick:

:patriot:

Asking you a question like that. He could have been cordial but no, he had to act like an ass.

Muskypundit

Sir

I Salut you, even tho I disagree with the war you was in, I Salute you, for the service you did for your country. It was not your fault that you was sendt to Iraq...

And you also tell me, what many vetrans, of many wars have told, again, and again over the last thousands of years. War is hell, and totaly pointless..

And that is at least something I have learned - that war is totaly waste om time and ressourses. And a tragedy for everyone who is maimed or killed by it.. A your child, who was not even old enough to understand why it was killed..

Diclotican

And it sucks every generation needs to learn war is hell by themselfs.

Muskypundit

True, war is hell, but somehow we have tha ability to dislearn how bad it really is.. Maybe it is more easy in US, to belive that War is like in the Battle field series of PC gamles, as you have not have a war on your own soil sinse 1865.. In Europe, we still know about what war is, as Europe for the last 20 year also have experienced a lot of pain as parts of Europe have been in arms against itself.. Specially the Balkans, who still are in partial ruins after the 1990s.. It wil take years and years to rebuild the fycical damages.. And generations to rebuild the trust between pepole..

And, it is maybe the mental and the trust between pepole who once was nabours, and now are enemies, who wil take the longest time to heal.. The wounds inside us, is far less easy to heal, than the fysical damage to buildings an infrastructure..

Diclotican

:hug: :patriot:

I'm ashamed that we didn't act sooner, that we allowed our goverment to put you in that situation.
I hope that you find peace.

NEED to say this to you, and would if I could say it thru you to every single American and "coalition" partner service member who has served in these ill-begotten wars:

I apologize from the depth of my soul that we sent you there. As you no doubt know, many of us tried very, very hard to keep us out and keep you home, but we failed. It broke my heart then that we failed, it breaks my heart now. I am so sorry for your pain, but please try to forgive yourself and whoever else yuo feel you need to -- it wasn't your doing. If you believe in God, or a universal consciousness, recall the lesson of the Prodigal Son, which isn't so much about humans as it is about how a loving God (or Great Spirit or whatever you choose to call a higher Power -- IF you do) regards us poor humans: with loving acceptance and total forgiveness. what's past is past, this is a NEW day, a new life.

You needn't feel any shame, either. You were sent there by your government, and served in good faith, and now you know better than to trust that government and so can be part of the change that is so desperately needed. Your RAGE can be put to use in exactly the way you used it today, or more quietly by speaking Truth to Power in more controlled and less confrontational ways. Or however it works at the time!!

I'm so very glad you're here at DU, I'm so glad you're home, I'm so glad you know the truth about these things. I celebrate you and your life and your future.

Thank you for your service.

And the rage is righteous at times.

Just a word of advise...keep away from fireworks. They got a way to bring you back o'er there. Wherever your personal hell happens to be.

Thank you for speaking up... speaking the honest to goodness TRUTH about the path of real pain and destruction and horror that our misbegotten leaders have taken this nation down. It is not fair that you had to suffer that, that you lost your friend. That that child died. It is all so awful, so sad. I'm so sorry for that. I'm ashamed for my country and sympathize with your rage. The people in this country with the one-teabag-size-fits-all idea of what this country is and how we liberals don't belong are laughably mistaken, and sorely misled.

After all you've been through, who could blame you for blowing up at him? I am proud and very grateful that you spoke up. The shame you carry belongs to all of us-- please let us help you carry it. You do not deserve to carry that heavy burden alone.
:hug:

They have been trained to hate Democrats and Liberals more than anything. Logic, common sense, and facts will never trump their absolutely hatred for anything left of center.

for sharing your story. :hug: :yourock:

When will we ever learn?

May your friend rest in peace.

And may you find peace.

peace :pals:

A Liberal veteran.

Cognitive Dissonance at its finest. "Ordered...to...hate...evil...libruls...but..must...honor...veterans...can't process...help me...help me..."

It last as long as it takes to cut benefits to the VA.......

I am normally accused of lying before they even get the chance to have that cognitive dissonance. I used to just pull out my dog tags, but I dont like to wear them anymore.

I think you need a big hug today. I am so sorry you have to have these continuing encounters with our own population here in the U.S.

And I thank you for your service. I hope you have a better rest of the week, Muskypundit. Thank you for sharing.

:grouphug:

Thank you on a personal level, because I know that stories like this are unbelievably hard to share. The casualties of war that never get counted are those suffered by the men and women we send to fight it, and who learn terrible things about humanity. These are not easy wounds to expose. May yours continue to heal.

Secondly, thank you on a larger level, because sharing our stories is sharing humanity. And we need to share humanity at a time when our Beloved Oligarchs have had three decades of success in convincing us that my well-being bears no relation to your well-being. That if you look or sound or act differently than I do, you are not truly human.

Now is the time to reclaim our stories and share them and realize that we are all human, and that our children's and grandchildren's futures depend on all of us.

appreciatively,
Bright

for killing innocents for the last 43 years. Have you been to readjustment counseling offered by the VA? I was drafted, and went to Vietnam because the government (Army) said they'd ruin my life if I didn't go. They ruined more than the year I served in combat, but I finally decided to get compensated. Demand compensation. They'll jerk your chain, but never let up. No matter what they say keep banging on their door. It eventually opens. Always remember, they want you to walk away in disgust.

top open their eyes and wonder what just happened.

Beautiful!

That man is a piece of crap. Hugs and healing vibes are on the way to you.

You did much better than I in those circumstances.

If you need anything or someone to talk to, the services of our office are yours to ask for.

:hug: Not much but all I can offer.....

Unfortunately, that Iraqi child's older brother will feel perfectly justified when he blows up the American Embassy in ten years, after everything seems to have returned to "normal", which for him, and many like him, it never will.

politicians and the war machine and those profiting.

Those pulling their strings and the R's, (a representative of which you so rightly took down for all of us).
Those who keep them in power, to keep on doing their evil, whose depth can no longer be measured.

Your words are of despair and that despair belongs to all of us for the shame we bear for allowing the loss of our country to fascists.

And though we cannot heal the horrific wounds you bear...take some comfort in knowing
words like yours are what are building the bulwark of defiance we are now all occupied in.

But to have lived in and born witness to the outcomes of that evil, is a pain and a horror none of us can even begin to imagine and can only share through your words to know how deep is that shame.

That you are speaking out so honestly, will help you and all of us in our quest for some kind of peace; to fortify us for the battle that is ahead of us.

Your words here are a gift that are for all of us to take hart in; for us to cheer you on and give your voice even more meaning as we shout your message from the towers of DU to say to the warlords and their armys of gung ho R's: WE SEE AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE EVIL YOU HAVE DONE AND WILL NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE!

So my thanks to you Muskypundit and may pride walk in your footsteps.

his ignorance. How could you not. I'm sorry you had to go there and have to carry that other place with you. But you are doing the best with it that is possible - teaching the ignorant.
My generation was the Viet Nam War vets (family members). They came back changed and so many would not talk about their feelings or experiences until 40 years later. Then they started to feel relief. That you are able to talk about it is a huge thing in your favor. Always remember - your country asked you to do this so you can share the load with all of us.
Peace to you Muskypundit - it comes in babysteps.

Have a hug instead, and know how much I appreciate you ...
:hug:

everything he got!

But. . .please take your meds! We don't want to lose you!

bet he was speechless. Many on the right are happy to talk the walk but not walk the talk.

from EUCOM.

Thank you for your words of support.

You probably helped the guy, if he felt a fraction of what you were trying to express.

A genuine response like that one, even angry, is nothing like a lazy "F you" out a car window. That gets no one anyone.

You did a service, and another one sharing the story.

But I shrug it off and wave, I had already forgiven them. I was not so pleasant this time, it was more personal.

you deserve it. More then most of us.

I'd have followed the loser to his car and would have kept berating him.

I am sorry you had to experience that. I hope your dog is doing o.k.

I just had to get stitches removed after he ran into something metalish when he went chasing after a rabbit. Got his cone off so now I can throw to him.

Money statement;"for no good reason."
You did what your country asked you to do. At the time you had the best of intentions.
Our country needs patriots, the problem is the squandering of such resources. That guy would never understand that.

I want to say ... stand tall and be proud, but also feel what you feel.

Allow yourself to deal with the complex emotions of these events, and then take time to separate them so that you can deal with them in smaller chunks.

It sounds like what you have seen is more than most of us could ever take ... and so, if you can, talk to someone who will listen, someone who will also be supportive.

And when approached by an idiot like this one, try to pass quickly from the anger you rightfully feel towards them (which they earn), to sympathy for them. These are deluded people. They are clueless. And they can not comprehend anything that you have experienced.

Most of all ... really, above all else, stay sane ... if you actually "lost yourself" in this situation, which it sounds like you may have ... then you need to recognize that you are still at emotional risk.

You say you are "ashamed" ... I want to tell you not to feel that way. But that would be condescending to you. You MUST feel what you feel. And then deal with it. Again, the situations you have been through are more emotionally intertwined than most of us could ever imagine.

So allow yourself to be unsure. Try to go slow. Let yourself feel what you feel. But above all else, stay sane. Don't let yourself give in. You can deal with all of these tangled emotions. You know this too, because you know what you've already survived.

You are stronger than you know. And stronger than most of the rest of us. And you should remember that, each and every day.

which is what they all do so they dont have to turn that critical eye inward. because they're cowards. We were put in a shitty spot, dealt a pisspoor hand. Its part of the gamble we took, but that doesnt mean its easy.

And they look at you for a couple seconds like ".....fuck...." until they go "Liar. Whatever. You arent in the army; your not a vet."

None of the strangers I have talked to believe me past that initial ".....fuck....."

those kind of people wave the flag, scream about revenge, and then send someone else to live through their 'standards'. As a military brat we called them "damncivilians" (that is one word) and they are still around. I agree totally with that last paragraph, but do not be ashamed, they should be.

And for putting another Repig chickenhawk in their place.

:cry:

My arms ache to hug you

blessings to you, my friend.

Churches, citizens, leaders.

No ONE should defend it. War is a racket, it's about money, resources, power.

NO ONE should defend it. If you do, damn you to hell.

whenever she heard (usually repukes) saying "WE SHOULD JUST BOMB THEM" she'd say, "THEY'D NEVER SAY THAT IF THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH AN AIR RAID." :(

Never ate an orange because of blockades until she was 19. I heard a great many of her stories growing up, and it never sunk in until I experienced it how terrible war is.

your anger with that guy - that's the part of you that knows you should not feel shame. You're angry because you're feeling the shame that should belong to the 1% and the Fox News lovers who keep them in business the people who don't have the capability to feel empathy or see the light.

Skittles

Funny things, a Air Raid have the posibility to make pepole who like war, to not like it, as bombs are raining down on them, destroying and killing sivilans and military alike..

It is easy to mean, when you are in a safe place, that "we should just bomb them", a whole different issue when you have to live true a raid or two..

Im born long after world war two, but I do have familiy members, who have experienced war in different degrees, both home and abroad. And their generation was never really in love with the idea of war.. I belive my foster father was afraid in periods, all his life, for a new world war.. Even tho he was tuff as the rock he was standing on, he was afraid deep inside him..

And many who experienced war, was afraid, long after the war ended, for the posibility for a new war

Diclotican

I have never posted before, just commented. I do not know what got into me, but when I got home I couldnt deal with it anymore. I couldnt deal with any of it. So I posted on my favorite site about what had happened; gave a tidbit of what happened. I didnt expect this big of a response.

Thank you, every one of you for showing you care. It is hard, surreal to come home time after time again and find that after each soul shattering occurrence, everyone has moved on and does what they have always done. Like nothing ever happened. Like none of it mattered. Family will ask and it is that frustration with the world that at least caused me to never say a damn thing. Its also just hard to look your mother in the face and tell her such.... evil happenings. And no one ever asks a second time, just shrug off and move along. Or if they do care about what happened during deployment it was always offering condolences for my fiance leaving me. And I cared so little about that it was like I forgot her name.

You have all helped me; getting this out here, getting out some of the emotion, just a small piece of what I saw over there, helps me cope. And in no small way either.

Thank all of you.