Jane of Arc
02/23/06, 11:42 am
Dear Soldier Joseph Bonham,
Although you have passed on to a better future ... I still want to say to you that your story not only touched me, but made me cry. I almost never cry. Maybe I'm a bit sensitive because my family just buried it's own soldier wounded in war. But I want to say to you ... you have such courage. And thank you. I am so sorry to what happened to you. I am so sorry for what has happened to our other soldiers ... the nameless, faceless, anonymous soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital we aren't allowed to see.
Victims of War Are Not To Be Seen Or Heard Or Mentioned
by Robert Weitzel
"The greatest dignity and respect you can give [victims of war] is to show the horror they suffered, the absolute gruesome horror."
-War Photographer David Lesson
Joseph Bonham was an American soldier. He lost both of his arms and legs and all of his face to an artillery shell. He could not see or hear or speak. Other than that he was healthy and lucid. That was Joe's nightmare. He could be kept alive a long time.
Joe remained an anonymous torso until his head tapping was recognized as Morse code. When his message was finally understood, it was assumed he'd gone insane. Joe asked to be put on exhibit so that children and parents and teachers and politicians and preachers and patriots of every stripe could have a close-up look at war's leavings. It was the only way he could give his nightmare meaning.
Joseph Bonham's request was denied. It was not in the best interest of the country to foist him on an unsuspecting public. He died an "unknown soldier."
On March 18, 2003, two days before her son launched the invasion of Iraq, Barbara Bush appeared on Good Morning America. Our nation's "First Mother" asked Diane Sawyer, "Why should we hear about body bags and death and how many? . . . Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that."
Here's the whole story:
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views06/0222-22.htm
Although you have passed on to a better future ... I still want to say to you that your story not only touched me, but made me cry. I almost never cry. Maybe I'm a bit sensitive because my family just buried it's own soldier wounded in war. But I want to say to you ... you have such courage. And thank you. I am so sorry to what happened to you. I am so sorry for what has happened to our other soldiers ... the nameless, faceless, anonymous soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital we aren't allowed to see.
Victims of War Are Not To Be Seen Or Heard Or Mentioned
by Robert Weitzel
"The greatest dignity and respect you can give [victims of war] is to show the horror they suffered, the absolute gruesome horror."
-War Photographer David Lesson
Joseph Bonham was an American soldier. He lost both of his arms and legs and all of his face to an artillery shell. He could not see or hear or speak. Other than that he was healthy and lucid. That was Joe's nightmare. He could be kept alive a long time.
Joe remained an anonymous torso until his head tapping was recognized as Morse code. When his message was finally understood, it was assumed he'd gone insane. Joe asked to be put on exhibit so that children and parents and teachers and politicians and preachers and patriots of every stripe could have a close-up look at war's leavings. It was the only way he could give his nightmare meaning.
Joseph Bonham's request was denied. It was not in the best interest of the country to foist him on an unsuspecting public. He died an "unknown soldier."
On March 18, 2003, two days before her son launched the invasion of Iraq, Barbara Bush appeared on Good Morning America. Our nation's "First Mother" asked Diane Sawyer, "Why should we hear about body bags and death and how many? . . . Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that."
Here's the whole story:
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views06/0222-22.htm