They love their children, too.

[Bouncy Ball]

Dear bush voters:

I've talked to a lot of you and whenever I bring up Iraqis, you go deaf and change the subject. That tells me you must have a beating heart in there somewhere. I've talked to bush voters who are mothers and asked them if they can imagine putting their children to bed each night and praying a bomb doesn't go "off course" and hit your home that night. I asked them to imagine spotty access to clean water, being afraid to let your children play outside, your child's school reduced to rubble (again, one of those stray bombs).

You don't want to hear it. You turn away. You plug up your ears and go shopping. Anything not to see, not to hear.

But the thing is, they love their children, too. Not in a different way from you. They speak a different language, they dress differently, they call their God by a different name, but love is universal. They want their children to grow up happy, healthy, safe and loved just like you do.



This is an Iraqi mother and baby who died together as a result of OUR country's war on them. Imagine how your husband would feel, having to bury his wife and infant.



Can you imagine the unspeakable horror? The heartbreak that will never completely heal? The ANGER he must feel at having his loved ones ripped away from him?

They do not look like us. But the love they feel is the same.



This is a mother in Fallujah at the burial of her child.



What RIGHT do we have to rip these families apart? To take these lives?

None. We have none. Our attack of Iraq, beginning in April of 2003, was not for their benefit. We were told they were a grave threat to us. They had weapons they planned on using on us.

But that was wrong. Our war on them was illegal, immoral, and unjust.

They feel the same pride and joy we do when a new baby is born.



They cry the same tears we do when their children are hurt.



No matter how old their child is....



What right do we have? To dehumanize them, to turn a blind eye to them, to allow our government to harm a people who did nothing to us, who wished us no harm?

All the democracy in the world won't bring back their children. Think about it instead of turning away. Look at their faces. This is what you have wrought. This is what many of us tried to stop.

[cry baby]

1. Bouncy, this is the very first time that I wish there were actually

freepers with us right now. Very persuasive and touching!

Nominated

[Bouncy Ball]

3. Thank you, cry baby. And don't worry, they're reading it.

Only the most heartless bigoted coward out there could say this is no big deal.

[cry baby]

6. I wonder what this post would do in freepland?

No one with a heart could disagree. Are they heartless?

[Bouncy Ball]

10. Well, is heartless the same as bigoted?

Or in very strong denial?

Because some of the bush voters I have talked to just flat-out think more dead Iraqis is a great thing. They are the bigots. They are the worst, because they can look at photos like that and laugh.

Others do have a heart, but have kept themselves in such a strong state of denial (the MSM helps them considerably in this respect) that they have managed to not even THINK about innocent victims.

On a message board (non-political) I used to lurk on, I saw a woman once post one of those photographs. It wasn't one of the most graphic ones I've ever seen, but the bush voters on that forum went bananas, DEMANDING that the picture be removed IMMEDIATELY. It was called DISGUSTING!

Well, yes, it IS disgusting. It's disgusting we would do such a thing. But I couldn't believe she took such offense at seeing what her country had done in her name.

[cry baby]

13. In my circle of friends, mostly repubs, no one would think more

dead Iraqis would be a good thing. However, they do turn a blind eye to whatever shrub does. They love him almost like an idol. One of my lady friends bats her eyes and calls him "her Bush" like she is in love with him. I just tell them that he is disgusting and I can't stand the sight of him cause of his inhumanity. They puff up a little, then the conversation turns to something else because they don't want to hear the truth.

I remember that the VietNam war finally came to an end partially because the TV was showing graphic photos of dead VietNamese. Maybe I am remembering wrong, I was really young. But what I seem to remember is that when they showed those photos, people stopped to think about killing and death. They came around and the war ended due to public pressure. If these photos and others like them were shown on the evening news, CBS, NBC, or ABC, people would revolt and the war would come to a quick end - that's what I believe.

[R. A. Fuqua]

99. yes they are heartless.

I have tried this very same argument on a freeper co-worker--and he responds about how the kids are "taught to hate and encouraged to be suicide bombers".

Some people are so narrow minded that they just will not listen to anything.

But I do have to admit that the amazing bouncy ball states the case much more eloquently than I ever have...so some of the responsibility for the failure to persuade is perhaps mine.

[FreedomAngel82]

81. It's so sad

:cry: I hate what has happened over there. They will hate us forever. If in a couple years they really do attack us I hope the freeper asses don't wonder why.

[RandomKoolzip]

16. Ah, come on...you'd know they'd just bring up abortion. n/t

[mzmolly]

54. Well now, it would appear that they prefer "after birth abortion"

to any fetal interference? Don't you get it?! If a bomb entitled "USA" hits your child and blows them to bits, it's not an aborted life, it's a "Noble cause."

[Terran1212]

20. The Right is confused on how it feels towards the Iraqis

After 9/11 Bill O'Reilly wanted to carpet bomb Afghanistan. He even wanted to destroy their entire civilian infrastructure. He said anyone who didn't come out against the taliban was fair game or some crap like that.

When everyone was keen on invading Iraq, all the conservatives accused people who defended the Iraqis of being terrorist-sympathizers. They freely showed they had no concern for Iraqis or Arabs. Of course there was that small contingent even calling for "nuking Iraq before they nuke us."

Now, that it is shown that Iraq was no threat, the conservatives don't want to see their boy Bush be wrong. So they all switch to loving Iraqis, speaking of the great "freedom" they have now.

Nonetheless, whenever the bushites are presented with the proof of how Iraqis feel towards us, they go back to the "America number one screw the Arabs" mentality.

[Bouncy Ball]

23. Isn't it just CRAZY?

I mean, to have to go through such mental gymnastics in order to justify what we did?

Don't they ever get tired of it and just want to start talking truth and being honest with themselves?

[Oeditpus Rex]

50. "Get tired" of one's foundation?

Bouncy Ball said:

Don't they ever get tired of it and just want to start talking truth and being honest with themselves?

That'd be quite similar to a fundie questioning his/her belief in god and the scriptures. It's unthinkable, because they live in a mindset of faith-as-foundation, and if they start thinking W just might not walk on water after all, they might have to question everything else they hang onto so tightly.

That's why we see so much justification, rationalization and subject-changing by the *ies. If they consider (much less accept) that the Wregime is wrong, it isn't just about the Wregime — it's about them, and their core beliefs.

The same can be said of liberals, of course — except that we don't seem to worship our icons to nearly the same degree. (Most of us concede that Clinton fucked up a few times, but how often do you hear an asshat admit that W was ever wrong about anything?)

[FizzFuzz]

76. You have a gift, Bouncy. Very powerful.

I wish I could email it around work, and to Mr Fuzz's business partner, but either action could causeproblems with our livlihoods. Sigh.

This particular post of yours here....I think I will use it. Next time I have to hear some RW and/or fundie rationalizing, whether its about Iraq or our "strong economy", or about Abstinence programs and "right-to-life", I will use this, because launching into facts and details which I can barely remember due to the avalanche of destruction, would not even register with them anyway.

[Bouncy Ball]

77. Shoot, thanks.

I know, I'd LOVE to email it to certain in laws of mine, but it would cause World War Five in my husband's family and it's just not worth it. It wouldn't change their minds, anyway.

:-(

[cry baby]

25. You're right, and I still don't get the "I'm killing you for your own

good" thinking. How could anyone really think that makes any sense?

And if their boy king is wrong, that makes them wrong, too, and no one like to be wrong. They're just being stubborn and people are dying because of it.

[saltpoint]

2. Very good post. Maybe forward copies of those photos --

-- to Don Rumsfeld's office.

When he told reporters that "In war, Stuff Happens," I wonder if these photos illusrate some of the "stuff" he had in mind.

[Bouncy Ball]

5. He wouldn't even look at them.

Or, if he is even worse than I think he is, he WOULD look at them, and then just casually toss them aside and shrug his shoulders. Maybe go to a $150 lunch.

:shrug:

[saltpoint]

8. Unfortunately, I think you're right.

This man should never have been appointed to that job in the first place and once posted, should have been sacked long ago.

A President Gore or President Kerry would never appoint some corporate whore like Rumsfled to head the DoD.

[Lorien]

78. Henry Kissinger said that Rumsfeld is the most

"ruthless man I've ever encountered".

Kissinger!!

[FreedomAngel82]

82. Now that's pretty bad

When Kissinger calls you that. And when people want Nixon back over Bush that's also pretty bad.

[R. A. Fuqua]

101. Kissinger also said--

"sometimes Rumsfield scares me!"

Mind boggling isn't it? How bad would you actually have to be to SCARE Kissinger? I mean he has dealt with a lot of bad folks--and never mentioned being SCARED of anyone except Rummie. Rummie must be quite a ruthless character.

[nolabels]

109. So far Henry has got the pants beat off Rummy, go figure

A sly underhanded killer is often more effective than a ruthless one. I am not saying one is better, but just watch what they do, not what they say.

[NightOwwl]

67. This is collateral damage. Nothing more, nothing less.

Rumsfeld doesn't give it a moments thought.

[IndyOp]

4. Thank you. When I think of war and its effects all I think about is

that babies shouldn't have to live in fear, ever, ever, ever. I get so lost and confused thinking about how people who are pro-Iraq war justify the war as 'on behalf of the Iraq people' and then turn around seconds later to refer to them with racial slurs. I suppose it has always been this way with war -- insane actions are impossible to understand.

:cry:

[Bouncy Ball]

12. "Insane actions are impossible to understand."

Mind if I tuck that line away for future use? It gets right to the heart of this war and the bush administration.

[FreedomAngel82]

83. Sometime if you can and you get the Sundance Channel

watch the movie "Life after War." It shows you what war does to people. Especially children. Very sad. :(

[babylonsister]

7. Yes, it's the humanity, a concept repugs seem

unfamiliar with or just don't want to acknowledge. It applies to all the Iraqi families touched by this war as well as the soldiers, their families, and the ongoing grieving. Thanks for putting a face to it, BB. You can never expose enough of these pictures. Also nominated in hopes a few freeps read the greatest and get a clue.

[FreedomAngel82]

84. To me

one of the worst's pictures I've seen was in a thread here in DU and it was of this boy who was covering someone else and his body was blown in half. :(

[Maraya1969]

9. Oh this is excellent!

I have a whole new list of right winger email accounts that got through to me because my mother forgot to delete their names when she sent me some stupid "joke" about BILL CLINTON!

If anyone wants to email this and other pertinent information to these people please PM me and I will send the list to you. I have already gotten hate mail and my mother has been very upset that I have emailed her friends.

Remember this is whole the Conservative movement got power - mass mail! We need to use mass email to do the same thing.

I just need to keep low for awhile

[UncleSepp]

11. Idea: Build our own spam list

One of us needs to start up and manage a mailing list.

We'll need one address to receive emails to be parsed for addresses. When one of us gets a RW email, we can forward that email with all of its addresses including the ones in the previous forwards. Parsing out the email addresses should be scriptable. Then the parsed email addresses will be added to a list.

We'll also need an address to which emails which are candidates to be sent as spam to the list are sent. This could be the list directly for an unmoderated list, or it could be moderated.

Finally we'll need a sister mailing list containing the email addresses of people who are authorized to submit emails for parsing and emails for sending.

Optionally, we could set up a website featuring the "worst of" RW spam, encouraging anyone to forward emails so that they can be displayed on the site. If those emails get parsed for addresses, well, whoops...

It sounds a little complex but I am certain it is not. If we wanted to get more complex with it, we could. For example, if the address harvesting script caught and stored the FROM address connected with the addresses in the TO line, then the email generator which would use this script for sending mass emails could spoof the appropriate sender for each address. Further, if each email was sent individually, the emails should sail through most primitive spam blockers.

Anyone feel up to it? And is any of this illegal?

[bvar22]

14. well done.

kicked and recommended!

[stray cat]

15. Nice post! However I couldn't help but think of the republicans.

Iraqis, democrats, republicans - we all love our children. However, you wouldn't guess it based on how people demonize one another. The common humanity that unites us should be stronger than our divisions - but that only seems to occur at points of tragedy such as 9-11 or the tsunami.

[Bouncy Ball]

18. I wasn't saying republicans don't love their children. In fact, quite the

opposite. I was saying Iraqi parents love their children just like the rest of us do. ALL of us.

I addressed it to bush voters because they are the ones who turn away from such facts and photos. The people I know who voted for Kerry (and Gore) don't turn away.

[stray cat]

26. Sorry Bouncy Ball - I knew you weren't and didn't mean to imply otherwise.

I think your post and the point is great. It just made me think - I think alot of the trouble in our world is that we don't really see the people that are impacted by our choices - as you plainly point out in your post about people not seeing what we have done to the Iraqis in the name of "freedom".

[Bouncy Ball]

27. Oh, ok! Sorry!

[RevCheesehead]

66. Amen, dmordue.

"The common humanity that unites us should be stronger than our divisions ..."

Now that's what I call a Progressive Value...and a Human one, too.

[jandrok]

17. Powerful stuff, Bouncy. Thanks for posting that.

The "family values" coding just doesn't apply to anyone but Republican America, unfortunately.

The contradictions are astounding. The reasons for invasion have shifted so that we "could make their lives better". Sure doesn't look like we made things better to me. Looks like just the opposite.

We live in the age of the big lie and the big avoidance.

Thanks for posting this. If it changes just one mind, it was worth it.

[Bouncy Ball]

21. Thanks and you know according to an article that came out

in March of this year, the child malnutrition rate in Iraq is now FIVE TIMES higher than it was under Saddam Hussein, even with the sanctions in place.

I cannot even imagine the horror of watching your child die slowly like that. And helpless to do anything.

But somehow we've made things BETTER? I always say "tell that to the Iraqis. Let them laugh or cry or get angry at that statement."

[beam me up scottie]

19. Once again Bouncy, thank you.

These pictures are an example of what I think about when I hear the typical "Why we liberated them, they're much better off now than when saddam was in charge".
I think many of the Iraqis who have lost loved ones would take issue with that spin.
Actually, I'm sure of it, just ask Riverbend.

[Bouncy Ball]

24. I love her blog. I discovered it shortly after she started writing it

and was blown away. Even reading all the alternate sources of news I could, I couldn't get a first hand account like hers.

[Horse with no Name]

22. The * regime has sanitized the effects of this war

We don't see these pictures.
We don't have the actual count of dead soldiers.
We don't have the actual count of maimed for life soldiers.
We don't have the actual count of Iraqi dead.
We don't have the actual count of mentally ill soldiers after they return.
We aren't allowed to see our dead brought home in caskets.
We don't see the US war protesters.
We don't see the Iraqi war protesters.

But yet, we see countless magnets on the back of SUV's.
We see our banty rooster-in chief strutting around claiming mission accomplished and war is over.

We hail to our soldiers from the port with their fresh faces waving--but when they are injured we sneak them home under the cover of night and when they are killed we sneak their caskets home without any fanfare.
We stand by when the marines try to "dress down" these deaths by not wearing their dress uniforms for notification.

What a sad state of affairs our nation is in. Beautiful post Bouncy.

[SillyGoose]

28. Great post, BouncyBall.

This what their "culture of life" has wrought.

:cry:

[onebox30]

29. According to the Republicans

you are doing our war effort a great disservice by 'humanizing' the enemy.

[Bouncy Ball]

30. I've never heard that.

What republicans have said that? That's a horrible thing to say. Of course they are humans. How immoral to de-humanize them. Also, they're not my enemy. Never have been. Iraqis never did anything to me, my family, or my country.

[onebox30]

31. Spend a few moments reading the posts at FreeRepublic.

You'll get an idea of how they feel about Muslims.

[MelissaB]

33. I've only been there a handful of times to see what it was about.

I wish somebody who posts there would post this. It might even be worth registering to post this. I just wonder how long it would stay. Two minutes?

[Bouncy Ball]

36. Not even that, I bet.

Can't humanize the Iraqis. They are just animals, you know. Just Muslims. Not worthy of our consideration and if they die...eh.

/bitter sarcasm off

[Crunchy Frog]

108. Yes, but even then, it's been worth the sacrifice of more than 1500

of our soldiers lives, plus untold thousands more wounded or maimed, just to free the Iraqis and allow them to vote, despite the fact that they're just animals and their deaths are meaningless.

It seems that one cannot be a Republican without maintaining a huge degree of cognitive dissonance.

[Bouncy Ball]

35. Oh the bigoted thing. Yes, I've seen and heard that.

My own mother in law used to advocate that we "just nuke" the whole regions in emails she would send around that she ACTUALLY found humorous. I found them sickening and told her so.

[Avalux]

32. Bouncy - do you mind if I print this and distribute?

I'd like to have it to give a few people and if you want, I'll credit you for it. You've done a great job with this - thank you.

[Bouncy Ball]

34. Go right ahead. Don't care if you credit me or not.

Bouncy Ball's not really my name, anyway. ;-)

Anyone can feel free to email this if they wish. No need to give credit. As long as people see the photographs and stop to think about the Iraqis who did nothing to deserve this.

[Avalux]

37. Thanks!

And I kinda figured Bouncy Ball wasn't your real name! :hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

111. Well, Ball IS a real surname.

So many outlandish names out there it wouldn't surprise me someone decided to call their baby girl "Bouncy." :silly:

[RevolutionaryActs]

38. Excuse me while I go get a tissue.

:cry:

[bush_is_wacko]

39. I feel like I have to reply since I nominated, but really there are no

words. This is very profound. I hope they see it. How can anybody be so cold hearted that they can look at those pictures and NOT feel for these mothers, fathers, and children?

[BringEmOn]

40. Those ain't fetuses or brain-dead pawns

so why should RW'ers care?

[Bouncy Ball]

41. I started to say that in the OP.

Since they aren't AMERICAN fetuses or a white woman who is missing her brain and can be used as a political football, who cares, right?

Well, I do. And a lot of other people do, too. And it's way past time for more people to sit up and acknowledge the destruction we've wrought on these people.

:cry:

[PA Mamma]

42. Thank You

I guess I don't have enough posts to reccomend but Thank You.
We all need to see

[Bouncy Ball]

43. Thank YOU and welcome to DU.

:hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

44. May God / Allah / YHWH / the Creator / Waheguru / the One have mercy on us

... awaken our souls and restore our humanity.

[Bouncy Ball]

45. Hear, hear.

[CoffeeCat]

46. Thank you, Bouncy Ball...

I'll add my praise to the mountain of kudos that you deserve for putting this together.

Thanks so much for such an enlightening post.

I remember driving along one day, and wondering--what would it be like to fear bombs dropping on our city? I imagined our family hunkered down, or our door being knocked down with soldiers running through the house. It's just maddening that we are inflicting such trauma on others--and we think nothing of it. People in the United States to not connect to what this would be like for them.

Unfortunately, I've given up on the neocons, the Fundies, most of the Republicans and the majority of Americans. Your amazing words would not move them. They're unreachable.

I do hope that the Iraqi people understand that many Americans care about what happens to them. I wish there was a way to disseminate this to the Iraqi people.

It's so important for the Iraqi's to know that many people are disgusted by BushCo. Your words/pictures could go a long way in conveying that.

I hope your post is spread far and wide.

Thanks again, Bouncy Ball.

[Bouncy Ball]

48. Thanks, Sparkles.

I hope it does, too.

While I was watching F 9/11 in the movie theater, I kept thinking "HOW can we let the Iraqis know that many of us did not and do not support this, how can we tell them how sorry we are for the horrible thing our government did under a madman and his cronies???"

I wanted to reach out to them and say "this was NOT of me, this is not my doing, I hate this, I fight this with everything I have."

:cry:

[lonestarnot]

47. Bouncy Ball keep up the gooooood work! Reminders are always

important!

[Vektor]

49. Beautiful post and I think they look exactly like us.

They are human beings like us. They cry and grieve just like us. And there are many Americans similar in appearance and dress to the people in your photos.

They do not deserve this. All because of a pissing contest between Saddam and the Bush regime.

[Bouncy Ball]

51. Actually, after I wrote that, I thought about editing that particular line

But then I remembered my psuedo-audience is bush voters. And they DON'T think they look like them. They don't look for the humanity in all of us.

[Vektor]

53. It's sad...

..so is this "humanizing the enemy" crap they spew.

A) They ARE HUMAN.

B) They are not "the enemy." They are private citizens. Civilians. They are women, babies, the elderly... this war is between politicians, not America and Iraqi citizens. Yes there are insurgents in the area (now), but most of them became so in response to the invasion/occupation, and also came in from other countries. That burned baby laying in the casket was likely not a "terrorist."

Why can't the culture of lifers see this for what it is? It's Bush's culture of prejudice, murder, and power-mad lawlessness.

[MelissaB]

55. I just don't see how anybody can look the other way.

They ARE like us. We ARE like them. :cry:

[intheflow]

52. Bouncy, you have touched my heart.

This is very powerful, very deep, very wise. Thank you for speaking truth to power. I wish those who need to see this could--or would actually look.

Thank you so much for this. I nominated it. :hug:

[Bouncy Ball]

60. Thanks

and to me, it's quite simple. It's just being human and realizing we attacked humans who didn't deserve to be attacked.

Thanks again.

[Zhade]

56. BB, I think I love YOU.

You are really one of the good ones.

[Bouncy Ball]

59. Wow

thank you. I've been knocked speechless.

:hug:

[Zhade]

96. Your thread did the same to me.

Keep on rocking, my friend.

[Lorien]

79. I love her too

DU is lucky to have her. :loveya:

[Bouncy Ball]

80. You're killing me here.

I get so embarrassed. But thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I always think of you as "the poster with the gorgeous cats." I drool over them every time I see them.

:hug:

[Zhade]

97. Yeah, but you're no slouch either!

:)

[understandinglife]

57. Thank you. www.missionnotaccomplished.us ....

....a day to reflect on all that has been lost and what we all must do to stop further horror.

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[Sapphire Blue]

58. View the 'Wage Peace Movie' - 'Eyes Wide Open'

View the movie from AFSC @ http://www.afsc.org/iraq/movie.htm

[Just Me]

61. Sometimes, I wish my heart wasn't tender because posts like these,...

,...cause me to feel so depressed and disgusted and ashamed to be at all associated with a leadership that recklessly and greedily wages such destruction.

My heart hurts.

[Bouncy Ball]

75. ...

:hug:

Sadly, I can't even think about these things TOO much or I'd have to scrape myself off the floor all the time just to function. However, I think it's good to remember the US government, under bush, hurt very real people when they attacked Iraq. Not a day goes by that the Iraqis aren't on my mind in some way.

[Just Me]

85. Our leadership is delivering pain and loss to many human beings,...

,...no matter what their nationality or color or religion. There are losses which are far more reaching than most people comprehend.

This leadership is forcing my youngest brother, a member of the National Guard, to serve in Iraq. He's not a young man at 33. He finally found the love of his life. When he received his activation notice, he and his love cried together for days. When I found out, well, I cried and threw pillows and actually yacked (I guess from having fought all these years against this extremist regime of ours).

Plus, my youngest brother,...well, he's "the" good one of our whole bunch,...always gracious and giving and stable and dependable and present.

The point is, the far-reaching waves of pain and loss inflicted by a handful of evil, greedy, arrogant assholes is simply incomprehensible. However, I sincerely know in the depths of my very being that, there is a counter-force growing in response to such things.

I do feel terribly sad :cry: at the suffering which is entirely man-made. It all seems so unnecessary,...but, I guess more hard-knocks are a part of forcing our awareness and growth,...I guess.

[La Coliniere]

62. I recommend films by Majid Majidi

Great post Bouncy!
To my conservative * supporting relatives and friends who seem never to give a flying *uck about the innocent victims of our aggression, I suggest they rent (Blockbuster carries them) two films by the great Iranian director Majid Majidi: "Children of Heaven" (1997) and "The Color of Paradise"(1999). "Children of Heaven" in particular portrays the love of Muslim parents towards their children in such a universal way that Disney films pale before it. I own a copy of this film for the sole purpose of trying to open minds and it has been the starting point for fruitful discussions about media controlled perceptions, xenophobia and cultural misinformation. I have one friend (who supported the Iraq war) who actually said he felt "shameful" and "guilty" after watching it. If you haven't seen "Children of Heaven", do yourself a favor, and use it as ammunition as I do. Even though it is subtitled, they are minimal. I've shown it to 5th grade students who loved the film and weren't hindered by the subtitles at all.
P.S. I've been a lurker here at DU for over a year. Today I finally started posting. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, for keeping me sane and hopeful during these incredibly trying times.

[Just Me]

70. Great to have you on board, La Coliniere!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

What our leadership does and has done in our name is disgraceful. I know of no one who would approve of the horrors inflicted by corrupt, greedy, power-mongering corporateers who have no conscience, no shame for what they do unto others.

[Bouncy Ball]

74. Welcome to DU and I've seen "Children of Heaven"

SO moving, such a wonderful film.

Also, I saw one I can't remember the name of now about a boy and his uncle in Afghanistan who tried to go to England to get out of the crippling poverty there. They went illegally and it was such a heartbreaking movie.

Thanks for your post, keep posting!

[BrklynLiberal]

63. BB! That is a breathtakingly poignant post.. It deserves the front page.

It shows that we are all family...mothers with children, we all cry when we have to deal with the same pain.
Thank you for making me cry. It was worth it.

[Hatalles]

64. Thank you for this post, BB.

Very much appreciated. :hug:

[NightOwwl]

65. Bouncy Ball....I would like your permission

to use your moving words and pictures if/when the need arises.

[Bouncy Ball]

73. Go right ahead.

[stellanoir]

68. really poignant post BB

Thanks. Check out this lady for further reference.

http://afamilyinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

[RevCheesehead]

69. Your words reminded me of a song by (the prophet) Sting:

Russians

In Europe and America, there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
in the rhetorical speeches of the soviets
Mr. Khrushchev said we will bury you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
if the Russians love their children too

How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly of common sense
on either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

There is no historical precedent
to put the words in the mouth of the president.
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie we don't believe anymore
Mr. Reagan says we will protect you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

We share the same biology
regardless of ideology
What might save us me and you
is that the Russians love their children too


(on edit: From "The Dream of the Blue Turtles")

[Wilms]

71. Peace n/t

[Old and In the Way]

72. Powerful stuff.

Now how can we get those that think this war is so goddam noble to read this? How can we get them to see the evil being down to others under our name?

[earth mom]

86. * & Co has succeeded in dehumanizing the Iraqis

and is the reason most freepers won't bat an eye over Iran. Isn't that what Hitler did with the Jews? :grr: Sickeningly, the MSM is in cahoots with them-when's the last time anyone ever saw a Muslim or Middle Eastern human interest story? The only time I have is on PBS. I highly recommend an excellent documentary called "Inside Mecca" that further opened my mind to understanding the Muslim world. It should be forcibly shown to every freeper out there!

Thanks for posting this thread-it needs to be said as much as possible! Now, excuse me while I.... :cry:

[ClayZ]

87. Thanks Bouncy Ball

We just went to the "Eyes Wide Open" exhibit yesterday in Seattle. http://www.afsc.org/eyes/default.htm

Your post reminds me of the tiny shoes in the heaps of civilian shoes.



The soldier boots and Iraqi civilian shoes symbolizing those who have died so far is heartbreaking.

Maybe we should all paint ourselves blue and sit in the street until sanity returns to this country! I have talked until I am blue in the face, I may as well paint the rest of me blue!

[Bouncy Ball]

91. Ha, I've felt that way, too.

Especially before the election. Now, I don't talk to them so much. I just don't have the patience. But I will again---not much good it will do.

[ClayZ]

105. My Parents and my Sisters family

are all republicans. I have given them big slices of truth and small bites. If they have swallowed any they have not let on to me. I keep on trying because I love them and don't want them drowning in that old river, Denial. Swim they do, and I keep on practicing my lifesaving techniques. I'm caught in a dilemma!


Thanks again for your post!





:kick:

[Catherine Vincent]

88. Thanks BB!

It's too bad this can't be posted at freerepuke site.

[Bouncy Ball]

92. Like someone said above, it wouldn't last two minutes.

They can't handle the truth.

[LibDemAlways]

89. Repukes I know believe that

there have been very few "civilian" casualties because they believe what they hear on American tv. It would never dawn on them that they are being lied to, and when I've told them as much, they accuse me of not knowing what I'm talking about. Denial, pure and simple.

Another common response - still - is "Well, look what they did to us on 9/11." Those who still believe that one are living in their own little world, and nothing will change their pitiful freeper delusions.

[Bouncy Ball]

90. Yep, I know quite a few who refuse to believe there have been

ANY civilian casualties. Isn't that amazing? The ability to just tune out what you don't want to know? Also, who in their right mind would know about all the bombing we've done there and convince themselves there hasn't been any civilian casualties? How could there NOT be? I mean, just the attack of Fallujah ALONE, ya know?

[latebloomer]

93. This brings tears to my eyes

Tears of sorrow and of rage. Our tax dollars at work.

Thank you, BB.

:cry:

[blue neen]

94. BB, with your permission I'm going to e-mail this to everyone

I can think of.

Those are such eloquent words with such moving photographs. And our country is to blame...Bush lovers need to know the cruel truth.

[Bouncy Ball]

95. Go right ahead.

Please do. As someone said above, if it only opens ONE person's eyes, it will be worth it.

[GoldenOldie]

100. Exactly what I have been looking for

In my talks with others who support Bush and his War yet choose to look and deny the death and destruction he has wrought, I always ask the question, what would you do if foreigners or even fellow Americans came into your country and home, bombed, shot, drove their vehicles over and through your children, wives, mother, father in the name of democracy.

The CONS and hotheads who proclaim they have guns and they damn well will use them on anyone who places their families in danger are the very same CONS and hotheads who will not answer the question "Why do they Hate Us."

Pictures are worth a thousand words and I think Aunt Jen's idea should be set into motion. I also have family members that could use a good dose of realizm and they usually have a long list of names. Now this is what I call Homeland Security.

[gordianot]

98. Republican culture of life purveyors ignore this type of message.

It gains them nothing politically so they ignore it.

I have heard the sentiment from Republican family members if an Iraqi is shot they must be the enemy. These same idiots came unhinged a couple weeks ago over a supposed life issue.

I have talked with soldiers who have returned from Iraq, these scenes are common. They will haunt another generation of Americans. The American public has to see these images, this time they have been wiped from the media.

Thank you for the reality check.

[Zomby Woof]

102. I nominated this

And if I could, I would nominate it as one of the greatest DU posts of all time, not just right now.

Anyone not moved by this post needs to check their pulse. Or their soul.

[Bouncy Ball]

103. Thank you Zomby, I'm humbled that you would say that.

:hug:

[Bluebear]

104. One of the finest things I have ever seen written

You are a beautiful soul.

[Gemini Cat]

106. Thank-you Bouncy

Powerful.

[Crunchy Frog]

107. What a wonderful collection of pictures Bouncy.

I can't imagine how anyone could fail to be moved by them, and by the sentiment you express.

Then again, I can't imagine what it's like to be a Republican. To be a Republican seems to almost require that you be without empathy. I guess empathy is the most important value to try to promote in today's society.

[sportndandy]

110. Thanks. Well Done.

[progressoid]

112. I received many emails from former friends (and good "Christians")

at the beginning of the war praising our "right" to do this, or denigrating anyone that wasn't a WASP, or describing a "true" American, etc, etc. You know, those awful freeptoid chain emails.

In response to their emails, I would send pictures of Iraqi freedom that I collected from the internet (photos that they probably hadn't seen in our media). I haven't heard from any of them since.

Perhaps if I had been more eloquent like your post and less abrupt...

[Bouncy Ball]

113. Oh no you probably did make an impression on them.

How could those pictures NOT make an impression? I mean, what the hell could they say to that?

I think it's a good sign they were speechless, so to speak. They should be, after saying they had the right to do that to people and beating their chest about it.

[progressoid]

114. Lets hope so -

Bush's sinking numbers give me hope.

[Misunderestimator]

115. Beautiful post, BB.

[raccoon]

116. Great post. nt

[warrens]

117. No they don't, you lieberal whiner

They're just ragheads. They have no feelings. You lieberals are such suckers for lies.

Freddy the Freeper

[Bouncy Ball]

118. Good impression.