2010, Defying the President's Orders, and a Soldier killed by Two Iraqi Policemen.

--Rumor has it Obama plans to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by August 2010. Then it's off to Afghanistan! Sorry troops there's no end in sight...fuck, you probably won't even get a break.

Read the article here.

--A Soldier in Iraq says President Obama is an "impostor" and wants to see his birth certificate! First of all, why are you going to defy Obamas orders? Give me a break. But you'll follow the orders of former President George W. Bush? That got us all real far. Easterling said, “I chose to work … to support my troops and then left that lucrative position when the Army raised its maximum enlistment age to 40. Upon completion of basic training, I entered Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a 2LT in August 2007. After completing the subsequent basic officer leadership courses, I was assigned to Ft. Knox and shortly thereafter deployed to Balad, Iraq,"
Dear the Army, 40? Really. That’s to old. No offense to anyone who’s 40 and wants to join…but you might have a heart attack over there. It’s hot and the equipment is heavy. Send care packages instead.
Balad, Iraq? I wonder what orders Easterling is defying? Maybe he's refusing to walk over to pool and jump off the diving board? Oh, or walking to Pizza Hut and getting a pizza? Or maybe he's refusing to sleep in his comfy trailer every night...give me a break. I kind of miss Balad. If anyone should be "defying" orders it should come from those actually doing something over there. Shut up and do your 9-5 job. Give me an infantryman who hasn’t showered in 25 days, whos boots have practically become part of his body, who has seen the depths of war, who has dodged bullets, IEDs, and RPGs…then we’ll talk.

Read the article here.

--A U.S. soldier was killed by two Iraqi policemen in Northern Iraq. You train and pay them one day...the next day they kill you. Welcome to a world where nothing makes any sense.

Read the article here.

Lawyer?

Is anyone a lawyer who reads this? Or knows one? I have a quick question. Thanks!

Casting Call for Veterans.

A Los Angeles based film company and People Farm are seeking veterans between the ages of 18-27. They want to hear YOUR story of life after deployment. You can make a little profile and people can vote for you...give it a shot!

Read more here.

"The Lonely Soldier Monologues (Women at War In Iraq)" by Helen Benedict.

Check this out if you can! I'll be attending.


William Electric Black will direct "The Lonely Soldier Monologues (Women at War In Iraq)" by Helen Benedict. The play is based on Benedict's book, "The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq" (Beacon Press, April 2009), an intimate, unflinching, and sometimes disturbing portrait of women in today's military. Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue, Manhattan, will present the work March 5 to 22.

Read more here.

"What Should the Iraq War Memorial Look Like?"

My life currently consists of going to classes, working, freezing, and trying to have a little bit of a personal life. So today in my Vietnam War in Literature and Film class we talked about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and then some kid asked what the Iraq War memorial should look like. I always find it entertaining when people talk about the Iraq War like it's over. My professor seemed to get really excited thinking about this. He finally shouted out, "It would be a humvee." The class waited for more. "It would be a humvee getting hit by an IED...the humvee would be like levitating...Oh, and there would be sound effects." I sank into my chair as my friend sitting next to me looked over at me. I told him I hated my life. He said he was surprised I didn't say anything. On top of my professor saying something I found to be completely appalling and disrespectful to all those who have lost their life in Iraq and to their families, some asshole student starts laughing. Really? This winner had on a New York Yankees jersey and a Yankees t-shirt under it, a shitty mustache that he thinks is awesome, Chinese symbols tattooed on the back of his neck with totally original dragons around them, he was drinking coffee out of a straw, and he carelessly giggled at my professors brilliant idea. My professor asked the class if we should sketch up the memorial idea and then he said he’s “glad this class is off the record.”

Everyday I wonder what the fuck the people around me are thinking, why they say the things they say, why things just don’t matter or seem to register, why they care about things that don’t seem to matter...and then I realize they must think the same about me. But I know I’ll never laugh at something so horrible.



*Speaking of death...

President Obama is considering overturning the policy banning photos of military coffins. If the families of the fallen soldiers are comfortable with this, I believe it's a step in the right direction. Maybe if the American public saw photos they would realize death isn't just a humvee that goes boom…maybe some would stop laughing.

Read the article here.

Nothing to do with anything...

but I was just introduced to Pandora Radio and if you love music, you'll love this site. It's the radio on the Internet...kind of. Just make an account (takes two seconds), then type in a band you like, they'll play songs by them and other bands that sounds like them too.

If you're in a mellow mood...try out A Fine Frenzy. That's what I'm listening to now.

Pandora Radio.

"Post!"

A family portrait:



My classes are going. Nothing exciting yet. My sociology professors are complete opposites. One is a fucking she-devil. She never smiles, her hair is curly and wild, her beady little eyes penetrate anyone who walks into class three seconds late, and her voice is harsh. She's no bullshit and I respect that. My other sociology professor is a goofy guy in his late twenties...I don't think he's thirty yet. Once he starts teaching, it's like letting go of a balloon and watching it make its way through the air. And on top of that, he drinks too much coffee. His voice is never at a steady tone...up and down, down and up. His jeans are also too tight but he doesn't have evil eyes.

My journalism professors are also opposites. I've only had one class with my Vietnam War in Literature and Film professor but he's funny, outgoing, and he makes the students feel comfortable. He asked our class if anyone has protested the current conflicts and four students raised their hands. One chick, who is from Jersey and talks so fucking loud, said when she was in tenth grade (2003), she was part of a march. The professor asked her what conflict...she responded with, "Iraq. No wait...Afghanistan? No, 2003...Iraq." I'm glad she knows what she's protesting. I'm also glad she feels the need to scream when she talks.

Oh, and my other journalism professor is a motherfucker. He’s old and has worked in the newspaper industry for years and years. First day of class, he asked a bunch of questions. "What is journalism? Why did you take this class? Who reads the newspaper? Who reads the news online? Who reads blogs?" Of course, I raised my hand when he asked about blogs. Who knew I'd be the only one in the class who reads blogs? Professor MF asked me what blogs I read...I rattled off a few and told him I also follow military blogs. He asked, "why?" Told him that's where I get firsthand experiences of those who have served, blah blah blah and that I'm also in the Army. "You're in the Army?" I told him yes. He kind of looked at me like, oh. Then it was time for introductions!

Professor MF came back to me.
"Ms. Hate? H? A? T? E?"
"Yes, it's Hate."
"So tell us about yourself. Why did you join the Army?"
I told him how old I was, why I joined, and then he asked what I had gotten out of the Army, and about my deployment.
Then he proceeded to say, "so you're in the Army, what do you say to those who think you just kill people."
"Uhh, I think those people are ignorant."
"Why? You're in the Army. That's what you do."
"Well, I have the right to defend myself. But we all have different MOS’s."
"Come on, you're in the Army. Say we are at a bar and we're getting a beer. And I'm like, you just kill people."
At this point, I’m getting annoyed. I don’t know if he’s trying to enlighten the kids in my class through me, or just being a piece of shit.
"I spent a year in Iraq and didn't kill anyone."
He looked at me and went onto the next student. They talked about how they like snowboarding, and how they made all-stars on their soccer team in middle school. He asked the class who had the most interesting story...everyone looked at me and pointed. I felt uncomfortable. Professor MF goes, "Oh, the Army brat." The class laughed, while I rolled my eyes and said thanks. The rest of the semester should be interesting.