this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war
we honor courage in all its forms
we love and support our troops, just as we love and support the Iraqi people – without exception, or precondition, or judgement.
image and poem below the fold
A coffin with remains of killed reporter Adel al-Mansouri is checked for explosive before his funeral in Kerbala, 110 km (70 miles) south of Baghdad August 1, 2006. The body of Adel al-Mansouri, a correspondent for the al-Alam television station, was found dumped with bullet holes on a street, police and the station said.
REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammad (IRAQ)
Next Door
by Joan Selinger Sidney
Oaks drag alongside the road,
weighted by yesterday’s snow.
There’s Frauka walking alone,
the hood of her parka
snow-lit against the trees.
I pull over. How is he? But before
I can answer, I see them last
summer: Frauka, and Father
leaning on Mother, wanting to believe
her will can make him well.
Sitting on the lawn,
pretending to read, I am unable
to tell them, My legs won’t walk.
Go on without me.
Eleven years I’ve protected them–
Holocaust survivors–by not naming
my disease. Wishing them dead
before they’d see me in a wheelchair.
Frauka whispers, My younger brother
died one day before your father.
Tears rim her eyes, her slim
body shivers in the wind.
For a moment we are closer
in our sorrow than we’ve ever been.
– – –
read This is what John Kerry did today, the dKos diary by lawnorder that inspired this series
love and support the Iraqi people
join CIVIC’s “I Care” photo campaign
raed in the middle’s blog
support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)
support CARE
support the victims of torture
read Riverbend’s Bagdhad Burning
read Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches
read Today in Iraq
love and support our troops
read Ilona’s important blog – PTSD Combat
support Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
view the pbs newshour silent honor roll (with thanks to jimstaro at booman.)
take a private moment to light one candle among many (with thanks to TXSharon)
support Veterans for Peace
remember the fallen
support Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors – TAPS
support Gold Star Families for Peace
support the fallen
support the troops
support Iraq Veterans Against the War
support Military families Speak Out
support a young heart with an old soul peace takes courage (multimedia)
poetry matters poets against war
support the troops and the Iraqi people
