a cost of war
...
I find myself thinking, often, about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and particularly how our society will be affected by the huge numbers of injured soldiers and contractors returning home from these conflicts.
Given our experience with traumatic injury, Robb and I stand in awe of the toll -- economic and emotional -- that this is going to extract from our nation.
Robb hopes that there will be gigantic advances in medical technology, particularly in terms of neuroscience and prosthetics.
Me? I just worry.
I worry that these people will fall through the cracks, and that as a society, we will not be prepared to deal with caring for them.
I find myself thinking, often, about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and particularly how our society will be affected by the huge numbers of injured soldiers and contractors returning home from these conflicts.
Given our experience with traumatic injury, Robb and I stand in awe of the toll -- economic and emotional -- that this is going to extract from our nation.
Robb hopes that there will be gigantic advances in medical technology, particularly in terms of neuroscience and prosthetics.
Me? I just worry.
I worry that these people will fall through the cracks, and that as a society, we will not be prepared to deal with caring for them.
Comments
And I'm happy to pay for that with my tax dollars.
I've spent the morning reviewing some films of injured and shell-shocked British soldiers returning from WWI as I enter my 4th day of research on Gertrude Bell. (I've a four week grant to develop a one-woman show on her this summer - look her up!) I had to stop after an hour or so, because the subject was too overwhelming to me, given all of the connections I was making to the current conflict, and there are many. . .jaw-droppingly astonishing connections, to be sure. I stopped, and decided to check out the blog as a diversion. . .
While doing that, I was also printing out this poem by Siegfried Sassoon for use in my piece. He also wrote, "I beleive that I may help to destroy the callous complacencewith which the majority of those at home regard the continuance of agonies which they do not share, and which they haven't sufficient imagination to realize."
Thought I'd share. I fear we've already failed so many and we've no idea of the real consequences of our (in)actions in the future. I with you on the coughing up the bucks thing. . .
Does it Matter?
(from Counter-Attack)
-by Siegfried Sassoon
DOES it matter?--losing your legs?...
For people will always be kind,
And you need not show that you mind
When the others come in after hunting
To gobble their muffins and eggs.
Does it matter?--losing your sight?...
There's such splendid work for the blind;
And people will always be kind,
As you sit on the terrace remembering
And turning your face to the light.
Do they matter?--those dreams from the pit?...
You can drink and forget and be glad,
And people won't say that you're mad;
For they'll know you've fought for your country
And no one will worry a bit.
The former and current members of the US military will always receive medical help, even if it is sporatic thanks to our idiot president, but it's there. Earl did indeed have the Vet administration deny his medical bills last year, but Good Old Earl sends all his medical bills firsthand to the White House now with a letter shaming them into paying them. He is the only one I know who can pull this off. You guys are not ex-military, so you don't have government coverage to follow you into old age, like Earl, but anything you can do to help your fellow injured people (Hint Hint - Write your book about Robb's accident already) will do more to help people than you can imagine.
Annalisa
Bandaid... supporting our girls and guys serving in the military and hoping it is all over with SOON!!!