tha kate

rosieloveswords:

I have a friend, a former Navy medic, who went to Iraq at least three times.  (He was supposed to go on a fourth tour but am unsure if he ever did.) He was in Fallujah and Ramadi during the big pushes there. He’s now an Army helicopter pilot.

He posted this video this morning.

I come from a long line of military people. Almost every man in my family served. I was the first of my siblings not to go into the service — I wanted to but was dissuaded by my Marine Corps officer grandfather.

We’ve lost so much over the course of the last decade. And continue to lose.

Military families will continue to receive news that their loved one has been killed or seriously injured in combat.

This is what I think of when I think of Osama bin Laden’s death. I think of the loss that will continue; the loss that began some ten years ago. The loss that he helped create but that our politicians have helped perpetuate to some extent.

One man is dead. One man.

And while that death is monumental in many ways, what has changed? We are still embroiled in this strange de-territorialized conflict. We are still mired in two wars and are currently engaged in a humanitarian intervention that looks a lot like war.

I have a hard time rejoicing in the face of all that.

There’s so much more to all of this than one mans death.  My heart continues & will always go out to the soldiers & their families.  

(Source: bourbonismycopilot)