My four year old son carries a picture of my husband, taken at the Bagdad Airport, with him wherever we go.
Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, we went to a park near National Airport in DC to watch the planes land. As usual he brought the picture of his Dad with him. He will show it to anyone who is near us.
My husband is not in the military and was in Iraq for less than 12 hours. I knew this, but the people around me did not. Their reaction to my son and myself was funny and sad.
Funny-receiving dinner invitations from people who thought I was alone and sad without my husband. I did explain to them that my husband was home helping out with dinner. They laughed and we all watched the planes. These families (there were two) had huge hearts.
Sad-the group of young men getting ready to do their touch football and hang out. I know its very easy to stereotype, but when they saw the picture, the only word I can think of for their reaction was SHAME.
This war makes people uncomfortable. If this was a legititmate war, with clearly defined goals for victory, I think I would have been able to spark conversation and not pity.
A small boy holding a picture of his father in Iraq was enough to silence a rowdy group of young men.
Guilt? Shame? Numbness?
I'm not sure what the point of my diary is, except that we have no national dialogue. There are no pictures of little boys holding photos of their Moms and Dads.
Bush has caused shame. He has caused this to be an underground war, with the injured and the dead hidden from us because of his shame.
Why can't he honor their sacrifices?
Again, I don't know it this is a legit diary. But I felt something I didn't know about yesterday. I will find someway to take the shame away.