Home› A Moving Train

Comforting Embrace

barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
edited March 2007 in A Moving Train
This morning, I received an email from an old employee of mine. It contained a picture and brief story about an air force chief comforting an injured Iraqi child. It was a touching photo & story, so I thought I'd share. The link below is to the story on snopes.com. I went to snopes to make sure the story was, indeed, true and not an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/gebhardt.asp
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin

Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • angelicaangelica Posts: 6,038
    baraka wrote:
    This morning, I received an email from an old employee of mine. It contained a picture and brief story about an air force chief comforting an injured Iraqi child. It was a touching photo & story, so I thought I'd share. The link below is to the story on snopes.com. I went to snopes to make sure the story was, indeed, true and not an urban legend.

    http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/gebhardt.asp
    Thanks for sharing that, baraka. It is a heartwarming image and story.
    "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr

    http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta

    Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
  • RushlimboRushlimbo Posts: 832
    This makes everything worth it.
    War is Peace
    Freedom is Slavery
    Ignorance is Strength
  • PaperPlatesPaperPlates Posts: 1,745
    Thanks for sharing this. Just goes to show for every story of horror and such that we are inundated with, there are stories of true heroes and men of honor and compassion serving in our armed forces.
    Why go home

    www.myspace.com/jensvad
  • trappedinmyradiotrappedinmyradio Posts: 1,189
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    This makes everything worth it.
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    (breath)
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    I'll dig a tunnel
    from my window to yours
  • gue_bariumgue_barium Posts: 5,515
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    This makes everything worth it.

    I think the idea for the post was in a slightly lower key than you give it credit for.
    A little humanity every now and then.
    all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
    except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
  • Coathanger HalosCoathanger Halos Posts: 137
    I love seeing things like this. It sort of restores my faith in humanity for a moment.
    I'll cut you in.
  • barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
    gue_barium wrote:
    I think the idea for the post was in a slightly lower key than you give it credit for.
    A little humanity every now and then.

    Thank you gue..................exactly why it was posted.
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
    but the illusion of knowledge.
    ~Daniel Boorstin

    Only a life lived for others is worth living.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • trappedinmyradiotrappedinmyradio Posts: 1,189
    baraka wrote:
    Thank you gue..................exactly why it was posted.

    and, yes...thank you for posting.
    I'll dig a tunnel
    from my window to yours
  • AbookamongstthemanyAbookamongstthemany Posts: 8,209
    What a beautiful picture!
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    This makes everything worth it.

    Do I detect a hint of sarcasm? The point of the post, like gue mentioned, was to applaud a man that went above what was expected of him, because he empathized with this little girl and this little girl's family. He saw himself & his family in this little girl that was devastated by tragedy. I believe one can become so blinded by their ideology that they are no longer of use.
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
    but the illusion of knowledge.
    ~Daniel Boorstin

    Only a life lived for others is worth living.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • RushlimboRushlimbo Posts: 832
    What has happened to the child after she healed? Where is she now? Is she alive? Any relatives alive to take her? Is she property of the military now? You people are way to easy if one photo makes you forget this is our fault. There is a caption that says this is representative of what the U.S. is trying to accomplish. Barf.
    War is Peace
    Freedom is Slavery
    Ignorance is Strength
  • angelicaangelica Posts: 6,038
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    What has happened to the child after she healed? Where is she now? Is she alive? Any relatives alive to take her? Is she property of the military now? You people are way to easy if one photo makes you forget this is our fault. There is a caption that says this is representative of what the U.S. is trying to accomplish. Barf.
    We don't forget--I certainly don't. However, at the same time, a good deed and moments of compassion and empathy cannot be minimized. They stand alone.
    "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr

    http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta

    Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
  • AbookamongstthemanyAbookamongstthemany Posts: 8,209
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    What has happened to the child after she healed? Where is she now? Is she alive? Any relatives alive to take her? Is she property of the military now? You people are way to easy if one photo makes you forget this is our fault. There is a caption that says this is representative of what the U.S. is trying to accomplish. Barf.


    I don't think anyone is going to start supporting this war that didn't already just from viewing this picture. What is important is that this little girl had someone there for her to give her love and healing in her time of need. This person went above and beyond what was expected of him to help this child and share his love.
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    What has happened to the child after she healed? Where is she now? Is she alive? Any relatives alive to take her? Is she property of the military now? You people are way to easy if one photo makes you forget this is our fault. There is a caption that says this is representative of what the U.S. is trying to accomplish. Barf.

    We're not forgetting. If anything this reminds me that

    WE NEED TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • gue_bariumgue_barium Posts: 5,515
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    What has happened to the child after she healed? Where is she now? Is she alive? Any relatives alive to take her? Is she property of the military now? You people are way to easy if one photo makes you forget this is our fault. There is a caption that says this is representative of what the U.S. is trying to accomplish. Barf.

    you're thinking in terms of the comments, and not the picture itself. sure, there are crazy war-loving yahoo's that propogandize a picture like this, but that aint it.
    Life catches up to us sometimes, and sometimes it makes a picture like this.
    all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
    except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
  • barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    What has happened to the child after she healed? Where is she now? Is she alive? Any relatives alive to take her? Is she property of the military now?

    I am curious about this myself.
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    You people are way to easy if one photo makes you forget this is our fault. There is a caption that says this is representative of what the U.S. is trying to accomplish. Barf.

    Again, you missed the point. Has NOTHING to do with the war as much as it has to do with the unselfish actions of another. The point, AGAIN, is the reaching out across cultural lines and seeing those different than you as the same. Again, you are missing the point due to your blinded, counter-productive negative perspective, which is the birth of war and tragedy, imo. While I don't feel the particular caption you mentioned is representative to all, I do recognize a humanitarian, unselfish act when I see one. I'm sorry you can't. Can't see the forest through the trees................
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
    but the illusion of knowledge.
    ~Daniel Boorstin

    Only a life lived for others is worth living.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
    Abookamongstthemany wrote:
    I don't think anyone is going to start supporting this war that didn't already just from viewing this picture. What is important is that this little girl had someone there for her to give her love and healing in her time of need. This person went above and beyond what was expected of him to help this child and share his love.


    Thank you, abook. I have never supported this war, but like angelica stated, this action stands on it's own. I can't fathom the mindset of anyone who would dismiss such an action.
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
    but the illusion of knowledge.
    ~Daniel Boorstin

    Only a life lived for others is worth living.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • gue_bariumgue_barium Posts: 5,515
    baraka wrote:
    I am curious about this myself.



    Again, you missed the point. Has NOTHING to do with the war as much as it has to do with the unselfish actions of another. The point, AGAIN, is the reaching out across cultural lines and seeing those different than you as the same. Again, you are missing the point due to your blinded, counter-productive negative perspective, which is the birth of war and tragedy, imo. While I don't feel the particular caption you mentioned is representative to all, I do recognize a humanitarian, unselfish act when I see one. I'm sorry you can't. Can't see the forest through the trees................

    I think you're being harsh on the limbo man. I don't think it is the soldier's unselfishness that brought him to care about an injured child.
    all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
    except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
  • barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
    gue_barium wrote:
    I think you're being harsh on the limbo man. I don't think it is the soldier's unselfishness that brought him to care about an injured child.

    I apologize if I appeared harsh, I probably was. But, the focus was being diverted from this unfortunate child and unselfish soldier to something counter-productive.
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
    but the illusion of knowledge.
    ~Daniel Boorstin

    Only a life lived for others is worth living.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • gue_bariumgue_barium Posts: 5,515
    baraka wrote:
    I apologize if I appeared harsh, I probably was. But, the focus was being diverted from this unfortunate child and unselfish soldier to something counter-productive.

    selfish or unselfish has nothing to do with it. arrgh.

    earlier in the thread, limbo decided to go anti-propoganda-propoganda-speak, and you were fine til you decided you needed to reply to that.

    lol.

    i need to sleep.
    all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
    except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
  • barakabaraka Posts: 1,268
    gue_barium wrote:
    selfish or unselfish has nothing to do with it. arrgh.

    earlier in the thread, limbo decided to go anti-propoganda-propoganda-speak, and you were fine til you decided you needed to reply to that.

    lol.

    i need to sleep.


    Yeah, I suppose I was baited. Nighty-night, gue................
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
    but the illusion of knowledge.
    ~Daniel Boorstin

    Only a life lived for others is worth living.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • gue_bariumgue_barium Posts: 5,515
    baraka wrote:
    Yeah, I suppose I was baited. Nighty-night, gue................

    this is the AMT. It happens.

    g'night
    all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
    except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    Thanks!!!

    That's a great picture.

    I just played guitar for an art show on Friday for a marine that recently returned from Iraq.
    Half of his photos were of kids, and of his fellow marines being with the kids!

    Without typing for a half hour:
    http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=235567

    One of his comments was that one of the main things that kept him and his friends sane there WERE those kids. They were curious and innocent and friendly, and amongst the corruption and the politics, one thing holds constant is the innocence of children. His hope was that, whatever the politics and win or lose, he was hoping that things would at least be better for the next generation.

    For or against the war, you have to give credit and respect to the men and women that serve there, and get shot at, and who DO care about the people they are trying to help.
    Be kind, man
    Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
    __________________________________
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    For or against the war, you have to give credit and respect to the men and women that serve there, and get shot at, and who DO care about the people they are trying to help.

    I'll second that. Let's hope this craziness ends soon so won't have to see pictures like this anymore.
Sign In or Register to comment.