tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post4270623892507137401..comments2023-05-24T07:28:47.004-05:00Comments on Teresa Evangeline: Toy SoldiersTeresa Evangelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-83660166947681039372013-11-05T14:41:13.736-06:002013-11-05T14:41:13.736-06:00Steven, I'm very grateful for your comments re...Steven, I'm very grateful for your comments regarding your very personal experiences around these events.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-57807395844013149152013-11-05T14:37:28.714-06:002013-11-05T14:37:28.714-06:00I will never understand mothers who condone these ...I will never understand mothers who condone these choices ... apparently they haven't yet experienced very many sleepless nights ... the entire issue around drones more than rankles me ...Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-54812661386503059882013-11-05T14:35:08.056-06:002013-11-05T14:35:08.056-06:00It was very random, except for those whose fathers...It was very random, except for those whose fathers were senators, as Steven commented. I imagine you know the CCR song, "Fortunate Son." It chronicles this quite well ... Yes, it seems that serving has become a choice all to often for Hispanic men of this generation. I'm not sure why, but it certainly seems to be the case.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-18632651487566812392013-11-05T14:33:22.637-06:002013-11-05T14:33:22.637-06:00You are correct Tony. (To a degree anyway) Remind...You are correct Tony. (To a degree anyway) Reminds me of a quote by Muhammad Ali on Viet Nam. “The white man sent the black man to kill the yellow man." Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-15611400844778843842013-11-05T14:32:06.267-06:002013-11-05T14:32:06.267-06:00Yes, they have such tender feelings, too, and thei...Yes, they have such tender feelings, too, and their own set of passages. I'm glad they don't play with army men either ... they should be gone from our consciousness.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-51043034067457753082013-11-05T14:31:08.994-06:002013-11-05T14:31:08.994-06:00Thank you so much, Ashling. I cannot imagine the a...Thank you so much, Ashling. I cannot imagine the anguish caused by having a son or daughter serving, especially when the draft gave so many no choice ... Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-28639802647518597952013-11-05T08:25:05.949-06:002013-11-05T08:25:05.949-06:00I guess I've never heard that soldiers used to...I guess I've never heard that soldiers used to have to get to know their enemy. What a battle stopper that must be. It's always amazed me how so called wonderful mothers can be in favor of war and nukes and drones to foreigh countries. They are families who just want to live in peace and it is not their fault they were born into a country rich in natural resources. Manzanitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467261212623663365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-39869245007713294042013-11-05T08:01:16.553-06:002013-11-05T08:01:16.553-06:00Interesting about the randomness mentioned in Stev...Interesting about the randomness mentioned in Steven's comment above. Many of the casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan were from poor, and disproportionately Hispanic, backgrounds to judge by their names. Economic recruits. A rich man's war but a poor man's fight as they used to say in the American Civil War...TONY @oakroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08304486783392151133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-72397987664794611532013-11-05T05:46:10.085-06:002013-11-05T05:46:10.085-06:00i love this post. As a step-mother of 2 sweet litt...i love this post. As a step-mother of 2 sweet little boys i often think of how boys seem to be overlooked sometimes in the frenzy of "being a girl" I'm glad that they don't play with army men nowaspiritofsimplicityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14870339828098281415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-7897735591163349562013-11-04T18:53:00.435-06:002013-11-04T18:53:00.435-06:00What a thoughtful post, so gently written. I give ...What a thoughtful post, so gently written. I give thanks regularly that my sons didn't have to--and didn't choose to--go off to soldiering, and my heart cries for every mother who has lain awake in the wee hours worrying about her son or daughter who did....Ashlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056573219551250815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-61665646887296885832013-11-04T14:05:21.182-06:002013-11-04T14:05:21.182-06:00Oh, yes. And more than that died every three month...Oh, yes. And more than that died every three months also, many many more ...<br />I'm so glad you never had to endure that ... it must have been more than hard enough knowing your brothers were there ... your mom ... what a terrible time that must have been for her ... Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-61587457439482916692013-11-04T13:03:15.687-06:002013-11-04T13:03:15.687-06:00Only one son of a US Senator served in Viet Nam Tw...Only one son of a US Senator served in Viet Nam Twenty-seven sons of House members also served in Vietnam during the 9-10 year war duration. <br />I can assure you more than 28 young men were drafted every 3 months in the county I lived in at the time.Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-92166914703437609452013-11-04T12:29:54.686-06:002013-11-04T12:29:54.686-06:00Those were very tough times for young men and thei...Those were very tough times for young men and their families. I recall your previous comment around this issue and have given it much thought ... It was very much like Bingo and I find it repulsive and bone-chilling ... the depth of depravity it takes to play games with people's lives ... and it goes on and on ...<br /><br />I'm so glad you commented.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-9395722880097181232013-11-04T12:26:09.950-06:002013-11-04T12:26:09.950-06:00Thanks for visiting, Catherine. Thanks for visiting, Catherine. Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-52782353198206008322013-11-04T12:25:34.122-06:002013-11-04T12:25:34.122-06:00Have you or Art read Tim O 'Brien's "...Have you or Art read Tim O 'Brien's "The Things They Carried?" A heart-wrenching look at serving in Vietnam.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-86095155224210580022013-11-04T11:54:43.092-06:002013-11-04T11:54:43.092-06:00Thought provoking indeed. My thoughts are mixed. ...Thought provoking indeed. My thoughts are mixed. I had 3 older brothers who were sent to Viet Nam. None of them wanted to go. They went and they served. I thank them for their service even though that War was a needless drill. I was saved from the draft by a well-welcomed high draft number of 353. I still remember being a scared 18 year old watching well-healed politicians and government muckety mucks drawing numbers out of hopper like they were playing BINGO. Eff those effers as they played God right on effing live TV. Relief rang out as my mother saw the #353 displayed as those effers pulled out the capsule for September 14th. I called my father and asked him to bring home a 6 pack of Budweiser. He did. We celebrated.Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-52599851253612052192013-11-03T17:23:37.097-06:002013-11-03T17:23:37.097-06:00You have some terrific thoughts here Teresa. They...You have some terrific thoughts here Teresa. They make me think.<br />Love the photo.<br />xo CatherineCatherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08885238657002176243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-10915149455571451232013-11-03T16:45:13.219-06:002013-11-03T16:45:13.219-06:00Of our eight children, only one daughter served. T...Of our eight children, only one daughter served. Thank the Universe.<br /><br />Every time I look in my husband's eyes, I remember that he served. And how he became changed. And how he carries it every days, for better and for worse.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-15340482405112689232013-11-02T20:59:14.400-05:002013-11-02T20:59:14.400-05:00I stand firmly with you on this one, Bill.I stand firmly with you on this one, Bill.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-40614767958179548432013-11-02T20:58:32.235-05:002013-11-02T20:58:32.235-05:00Thanks for reading and commenting, Cait. Nice to h...Thanks for reading and commenting, Cait. Nice to hear from you.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-48256972049927244692013-11-02T20:25:39.171-05:002013-11-02T20:25:39.171-05:00A wonderful poem. And you are right, not enough i...A wonderful poem. And you are right, not enough is said about the lack of choices that many men had to face with regard to fighting in a war (especially one that may not have been about national security). And there should be more discussion about this. Some of the guys I knew served. Like you said some came back and some didn't. And although I will always respect the men that did choose to serve (even though I may think differently about the war they served in) I also feel strongly about those who had the courage not to serve because they believed it was not right. WildBillhttp://www.wildramblings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-85771031064048807292013-11-02T10:32:04.090-05:002013-11-02T10:32:04.090-05:00This poem (new to me) is very moving.
I shall sav...This poem (new to me) is very moving. <br />I shall save it.<br />One dead soldier is too many.<br />Wise words.Cait O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04569760764766505179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-25357239800737267342013-11-02T09:01:06.884-05:002013-11-02T09:01:06.884-05:00A very good point, John. It is my belief that all ...A very good point, John. It is my belief that all these video games and even movies have, to varying degrees, inured us to violence. Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-61908011103152378702013-11-02T08:39:55.512-05:002013-11-02T08:39:55.512-05:00We played with the green toy soldiers when I was a...We played with the green toy soldiers when I was a child. Sometimes I wonder if these games are a way to prepare young children for a real war. <br />The "wars" we fought were very mild compared with today's video games. These games are very realistic and bloody even when they fight with "aliens". <br />Could this be one reason why there are so many shootings in schools, airports, shopping malls, etc.?John Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18185765129472832100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613729047769383491.post-21664316115640454932013-11-02T08:29:39.737-05:002013-11-02T08:29:39.737-05:00Rites of passage are important, but, as you sugges...Rites of passage are important, but, as you suggest, other avenues need to be created and promoted. One of my earliest posts is about Wilfred Owen. http://teresaevangeline.blogspot.com/2009/11/for-all-wilfred-owens-of-world.html<br /><br />Thanks for commenting, Jenny.Teresa Evangelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495114564099989481noreply@blogger.com