One of Owen's poems is called "Disabled" about a soldier who loses both legs (and at least one arm). One of my former students, Jared Luce, is an Iraq war veteran who lost both of his legs (from the knees down). Fortunately, his story seems to be turning out much better than the young man in Owen'd poem. Still, it's a high price to pay.
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Jared's story is incredible-not many people can bounce back like he did. He lucky-unlike the guy in Owen's poem- He already has the love of his life.
The following is going to sound angry-because I am. I think that no matter how much Jared loves his country and the military- the price he paid was too high. This makes me so upset. History tells us that what we are currently doing in Iraq is not going to work. All the Bush Administration did was wake up a thousand year-old sleeping civil war giant. And they did it without knowing the consequences of their actions. (sectarian violence- b.s.- if the sides fighting are from the same country it is a civil war)
In all likely hood, we will end up withdrawing from Iraq without it being a very stable or a very improved place, because the country is being dominated by a thousand year idealology of conflict/opposition. Who are we to come in and think that we can change this thought process (I repeat, over one-milenia old!!!) and change it in one, two, even five years? It is just plain foolish.
And yet, here we are still speaking of new resolutions, troop surges, etc., and we forget that with this waste- of time/money(today in our culture there isn't much diference between the two)
There is a huge human cost.
Yes there have been plenty of deaths. Those are undeniably awful. But there are so many injured with amputations or severe Brain trauma-and we talk about them enough. We hear the stories of the ones that are doing well, and good for them. But we never see the ones that aren't doing well.
Looking back a month and a half, I am glad we studied the war poets. This unit reminded to me to remember those who are struggling to accept their injuries from Iraq. I hope they learn to cope as well as Jared.
Speaking of Jared, I wish him and his family the best of luck in the future and I commend him for being able to positivly face such a serious life-changing event.
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