General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe shattered soldier wasn't a prop
In a montage of American awesomeness, he was a visual truth and consequence of a policy of permanent war. He represented the absolute necessity of diplomacy.
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)He was not a prop?
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)I've seen his posts before and he seems okay....a nice guy or lady
Chisolm nailed it.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)I do hope though that someone with a heart will have seen it and will pay for / reimburse him for all surgery and therapy he needs/needed. That would be the nice thing to do for someone who walked back into hell nine more times after leaving it.
elleng
(131,074 posts)and I'm sure that We the People have, are, and will be paying for all the surgery and therapy he needed/needs/will need.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)Klukie intended to and failed.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)Anything to do with our honorable sons and daughters in uniforms always makes the Chickenhawk Brigade of Republicons squirmy. They basically put on a big substance-free show, flashing their made-in-China flag pins all over kingdom come, then go AWOL from responsibility to America.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)But he is a living symbol of injustice. The people who started an illegal war, and the people voted to give that power to the people who started the war, and the people still waging that war today, are still walking the streets instead of rotting in a federal supermax prison.
We, as a nation, have maimed this man, ruined his life, destroyed his body and mind. And for what? At the end of the day, there was no noble purpose, just one set of tyrants replaced with another set of tyrants. While this man will suffer every day for the remainer of his life, the people who sent him to this fate, will live a life of luxury and ease, with money and praise rained down upon them.
El_Johns
(1,805 posts)KT2000
(20,586 posts)are the truth about those who give so much, and sometimes everything, in a world that worships greed. Obama called upon business leaders to raise their wages for workers and work for a better America.
No, he wasn't a prop, he is a reminder that some give to this country and others should too.
Klukie
(2,237 posts)giftedgirl77
(4,713 posts)want to jump up & down & scream about how that poor NCO was solely used as a political pawn without once taking into consideration how he may of felt about it & what his position was. There are thousands upon thousands of us out here who joined the military young because it was the best options for us for college or the only way to ensure regular paychecks that will include free health insurance & lifeinsurace for not only us but our families.
Yes many of us have dealt with multiple deployments, some of us were dual military & went with our spouses to limit the amount of time our kids would have to be disconnected from their parents. We have watched our friends die, watched their spouses pick up the pieces, & have come back all kinds of fucked up.
When we watched the STOU last night & they introduced the NCO the first thing that hit me was I wonder how he felt about all of those assholes that clamour for war on a daily basis & knowing that so many of them profited of our loss, pain, & misery solely because that's the game those fuckers play. As a 36 yr old female who was just medically retired from the military without the hopes of ever working again & only being able to hope that I won't be completely blind & wheelchair bound by the time my 12 yr old graduates high school, I can understand completely why he would want to be there. I want people to know what the results of this failed experiment is & I don't want those assholes to ever forget about any of the Soldiers that have dealt with this shit in any way, shape, or form.
Maybe the people who are jumping up & down screaming about the poor NCO, they should try & get the perspective of people who live these nightmares everyday.
LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)Clearly Obama was using some kind of advanced mind control technique to drag Sgt. Remsburg to the SOTU address.
Either that, or Sgt. Remsburg is totally incapable of making decisions on his own, let alone having independent thoughts.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)And incapable of making his own decisions.
Got it.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)the fact that he was there to symbolize.
LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)Got it.
What an interesting level of disdain you have for folks in uniform.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Nice bunch, this.
1000words
(7,051 posts)Thanks
1000words
(7,051 posts)I know that tactic is common here at DU, (see: gender flame wars) but it is lazy and disingenuous.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)...just to attempt to cheapen the President. Its pretty damn disgusting.
Cha
(297,528 posts)a "prop" because they don't want America to see the horrors of war in all its reality. Not sure why those on this board are being purposefully obtuse. Maybe because somebody said so last night and they're stuck in that fuck rut to nowhere? "prop!" "prop!"
It's "disgusting" but it only weakens their credibility and highlights the divisive shit angle.
sheshe2
(83,860 posts)One picture, you damn well nailed it! The party that is different and the party of indifference.
Thank you Cha!
Cha
(297,528 posts)Bless Sgt Cory Remsburg's heart.. so glad he was President Obama's guest last night. The looks on his and Michelle's face say it all..
It always will!
Cha
(297,528 posts)post last night, she.. it's very heartwarming.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024410203
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)Pathwalker
(6,598 posts)My best wishes and deepest gratitude to you.
giftedgirl77
(4,713 posts)that we fight every day to be heard & understand that many of us did what we did & continue to do for our families here & in our units. The parades & ceremonies are mundane & nonsense we know this better than anyone, but people need to see & know us. We shouldn't be forced into the shadows or accused of being used as pawns because we show our scars, it's already a terrible battle we fight within ourselves without facing unnecessary ridicule such as what is happening with this NCO.
Thank you very much for your words of encouragement.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)It's hard to look at what we did as a country. We need to face reality and look at what we did to the people we sent to fight in our names. I'm so glad he was there, and I'm glad it makes us uncomfortable to look him in the face. It should, we have committed great wrongs in the name of war. I hope we never do this again.
giftedgirl77
(4,713 posts)Thank you.
sheshe2
(83,860 posts)With his right hand. His chest is now his left hand. Cory was so proud to be there. That some here would take that moment away from him, and make it into political posturing. That breaks my heart.
You are so right bravenak, I hope we never do this again.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I felt so damn guilty, like we did that to him. After all he's been through, he's clapping, and smiling and living, and I just couldn't help crying. We will do better from now on. We can't see that with our own eyes and do it all over again. We won't.
sheshe2
(83,860 posts)Thank you. My heart goes out to you and your family. You obviously have amazing strength, I hope you will be standing tall and I know that you will be proud at your child's graduation.
The posts from last night, yes they were stupid and insulting. They upset me, I can only imagine how they hurt you.
To Cory, yourself and the others that served, my utmost respect. The thread and comments were obviously not mine, yet I apologize to you for them.
giftedgirl
giftedgirl77
(4,713 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)young man and his father. These senseless wars need to stop. NOW.
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)"The Military goes to work when Diplomats fail at theirs". Now it seems that Diplomats don't even try to do their jobs, or are cockblocked right out of the gate.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)It deals with nails (the problems it CAN address) very well. But too many of our politicians, especially the ones with (R) behind their name, look at every problem and think "nail." They are wrong. And we need the American people to see that they are wrong.
George II
(67,782 posts)....bush refused to recognize that any Americans were wounded serving in his wars.
Cha
(297,528 posts)the past, George.
Andy823
(11,495 posts)I have been reading all kinds of crap this morning from the same old Obama haters and the trolls who come here to keep things stirred up. People are saying that the president said things he never said, and when confronted they simply refuse to admit they are wrong. The same people who always jump the gun and always refuse to admit it when they get caught in their BS!
It's like all some here can do is be negative about "everything", and the can see nothing "good" about anything!
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)You are saying that he was a prop for something you support and that you do not mind his use as a prop.
But things you put on stage to represent things are, in fact, props.
1000words
(7,051 posts)Noticed that, too.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)You can use choose which word you prefer depending on your interpretation and what you think the intent was.
"Prop" has a more negative connotation as it refers to an item used in a stage play, something that is used in a disingenuous way.
Obviously, symbol is more of a neutral word. Bear in mind that someone's story can be both individual and unique to them but also symbolic and universal.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)Its being used to as a means to attack the President for having the audacity to create a good political moment while making a good political point.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)are never, ever called props. To do so is decidedly insulting. Prop is short for 'property' and it is not suited to humans beings. One can either support or deplore that moment, but in neither case would I support using the word 'prop' to describe a human being. In fact, I would attempt instead to characterize the moment, not the person playing a part in that moment, who is undeserving of criticism even if you do not care for the tone of the moment.
People are not things. Props are always things. If you would not call a man another's property, or simply a stooge, then perhaps it is not the man you wish to speak of at all.
Rex
(65,616 posts)I had no idea Will could bring people back from DU1 and DU2 with just one simple rant! Amusing!
10 deployments is obscene, but I guess we shouldn't talk about that part.
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)The call went out that DU needs to be taught about patriotism I guess.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Now only known as Name Removed. Think they got about 25 posts and then BAM!
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)with them. I guess I'm going to be trashing a lot of threads today.
1000words
(7,051 posts)Don't want my DU experience to be bogged down.
rsmith6621
(6,942 posts)......... and sat right next to him and reminded of their greed and arrogance all for the sake of supporting their friends who make obscene capital off of the death and misfortunes of others.
To bad we have to have deferments and to bad a President cant start a war unless they have a child invested in that war as well.
I keep saying that if this war required a inconvenient sacrifice rather than volunteerism we would have had it over 8 years ago.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Ten tours, a major injury, and he still smiles. He is proud of his uniform. Looks as if we are taking care of him. But I hear stories of others not so well noticed or cared for after fighting for us. War is not the answer.
Cha
(297,528 posts)how much the gopropaganda machine and whatever else wants it to be. Anyone who had a clear head and not an agenda could see this was about ending war not glorifying it.