We need to remember

[lrv]

We in the US have been able to state our feelings freely for many generations One of the ways we do so is by going to the voting booths and selecting a person or persons we think will do some good for us. Next voting day think about what these folks did and what they had to go through just to cast that ballot. THe last few shots are very expressive.

Movie was passed to me by our own Rich Langston.
You may have to "cut and paste" the link below into your browsers.

http://home.comcast.net/~lrvickery1/Langston/Iraq_Elect.wmv

 

[lt632ret]

What is a vote worth, when your life is on the line to use it ? What is a vote worth when it truly takes the courage of your conviction to cast it? What is a a vote worth when you must walk through a desert and put your familys life in mortal peril to cast it? The answer is whatever it costs. These pics were not on the news. Thankyou Larry. LT

 

[Bob W]

Fantastic. The burro ( a.k.a. donkey) being 'wanded' is now embedded forever in my mind. Gentle, stubborn, under-appreciated creatures. In many parts of the world the burro was the first domesticated animal, and the burro continues to be an important part of many cultures today. I wonder who he voted for?

It's hard to tell from the photos, but perhaps he was hauling a handicapped person...

-Bob

 

[lt632ret]

Yes it is understandable how the ass in this segment would be the message some would identify with. I understand why some would feel that putting your life on the line to vote would invoke an ass simile. The wonder of it all is that by finally being allowed to chose there leaders and eventually perhapes gaining the freedoms we enjoy some of these people will be allowed to express whatever there opinions are just as we do. I also wonder if there was some kind of provisions made for the handicapped to vote as you point out. Some of those handicapped undoubtably got that way on the path to getting the right to vote so as you again point out they should be allowed to enjoy that right. Perhapes there just wasen't an SUV to take them to the polling place. I personally deplore animal abuse. Whipping or any kind of batoning an animal is almost as bad as whipping or batoning a person. To bad they ( the mule ) cannot vote. I have seen mules that I have felt had much more incite than some people. What is embedded in my mind is how easy it is for me to simply walk into a polling booth and record my opinion something bought and paid for in american blood. What also is embedded in my mind is all the american blood that has mingled with the blood of the familys of those on the way to the polling place in this film clip to make this event possible. In conclusion I truly respect your opinion and your right to express it. I would hope the day will come when everyone will be able to enjoy that same right after all that is what it is all about. ( knife content ) to preserve that right I would certainly put my faith in my sword my sword in my hand and my hand to the heart of the matter. LT

 

[textoothpk]

Lots of real tough guys in Iraq right now, thankfully most of them wear our uniform. But it did take a very special kinda courage for those people to go and vote, and get the indelible ink mark on their fingers owning up to it.

Who knows? This all very work out in the end.

Thanks for posting it

Phil

 

[rev_jch]

They shpwed allot fo that, bit only ont he fox network news. Unfortunately the "mainstream" media would not have you belive that they are happy with their "new vote".

Me, I am happy that Saddam is out of work. Ive had stomach problems and arthritis problems for over 14 years, what reminds me of my service in the AF for 8 years, and Desert Shield/Storm. Ive had painful nights of sleep ever since (literally, of course it could be much worse). Than there are all those that have lost their lives, and all the rest of us with permanent medical problems we have to live with.

Its a small pension, but at leats its something. Can you put a price on ones health when its lost? Never.
Its good to know its not all in vain. To see the looks of those people, on their faces, is price less.

Few can know what it feels like, or what your left with when you go through a war.

A while back I was at the VA, getting my "annual" checkup for cancer and I met a young man who had just come back with uranium poisoning from Iraq. I felt awful for him, he said to me, "they knew it was there, but they denied it" (in reference the military knowing what they were exposed to). I looked at him and said, "yes, its unfortunate, when you were still a young child I was in the 1st Iraq war and I have 50% disabiltiy and have problems over 14 years, but they never wanted to admit anything". Its always easy for those on the outside to form their own "views" of things, but we need to all remember that the sacrifices of these young guys is price less. I was only 21 years old over there, just a kid. Now Im almost 36. My health problems eventually ruined my military career. They put me out just two months short of my 8th year of active duty in 1996. Why? If they had waited another two months they would have owed me a pension. Instead I received disablity severance pay. I then went to the disabled veterans who acted as my attorneys in court to get me to 50%. It took over three years.

can you put a price on ones health after its lost? never.

I guess what Im trying to say guys, is that the price is high. Many do not understand the lasting "affects" long after it is over.