Inspired by ejmw’s excellent “A Simple Reminder”, this is an imagined conversation that could be happening anywhere in Iraq or Afghanistan now. And my heart is breaking.
“Mommy, can I go play outside today?”
“No dear, it isn’t safe.”
“Why mommy, are the bad men back?”
“Yes honey, they are. There are men with guns on the roof honey because one of our neighbours is suspected of being part of the resistance.”
“Just like daddy?”
“Yes, just like daddy.”
“When is he coming home mommy?”
“Sweetheart, mommy explained to you already that daddy isn’t coming home. Daddy died in the market baby. You know that, you were there. In the car.”
“The bad men did it. With their big bomb. I hate them.”
“Me too baby, me too. One day we’ll be free again and then they will pay.”
“I want to help mommy.”
“When you’re bigger you can.”
I once read a wingnut ‘debunking’ the ‘idea’ that terrorism targeting the United States is in any way a result of our foreign policy.
It was all I could do not to shout WHAT THE FUCK PLANET DO YOU LIVE ON?!? IT’S SIMPLE CAUSE AND EFFECT JACKASS!
(Oops. I guess it’s more than I could do not to shout.)
No worries, it’s worth shouting about.
Better than curling up in a ball or banging your head against the wall, that’s for sure.
If Ductape Fatwa were here he would not so gently remind us that one day we’ll reap what we sow, and that these could be an American child and an American Mommy talking about an occupation. I don’t believe anymore that it’s impossible.
Even if DTF isn’t here to make those reminders, we can still do so (gently or not so gently as the spirit moves us). 🙂
Reminds me a bit of what Danni asked me at the start of this “WAR”.
She asked:
D: Why are we going to attack?
Me: Because they think that’s where the terrorists are.
D: THINK!?! Shouldn’t they be SURE?
and
D: But won’t the bombs kill kids?
Me: Yes.
D: Won’t the Iraqi kids call us terrorists then?
And now we have Marines raping and murdering kids… we have over half a million Iraqis dead and they are fighting back.
When 9/11 happened the entire globe was ready to help us… now the entire world sees us as murdering bastards who slept while the Emperor shredded the Constitution (among other things)
Yes some of us do fight against this … but when it is all said and done… Americans didn’t stop the attrocities. We ALL have blood on our hands.
And one day our children and their children will be attacked for the apathy and laziness we displayed towards all the heinous crimes Bush and his supporters committed.
Our soldiers don’t care if an Iraqi was a Saddam supporter… so why should anyone else care if we supported Bush or not.