The Iraq War has never felt so close to home

harmless_little_f***

I want to share this story because it happened yesterday but I can't shake it off.

As some of you know, I work in a homeless charity. My job is to run workshops and courses which support people's literacy, self-confidence and self-expression. My first one was yesterday. Around eight of us were talking about Abstract art and how colours and shapes can help express things about ourselves that people can't physically see; things which go deeper than the surface.

There was a guy around 19 who was painting camouflage colours on a canvas. I said what he was doing was great, and he started to well up. He put down his brush and started to tell me and everyone else this story. He left school at 16 and was drafted to the army because they promised him a career and that he could 'be all he wanted to be'. They promised him a future. He was drafted to Afghanistan and then Iraq as a sniper. He was teary as he was telling us he killed a couple of guys. He is homeless now because after he was told the wars were 'over', he was sent home with no support or help with his future. He has been left homeless and is now living in a YMCA hostel.

As he was painting, he said 'The interesting thing about camouflage is that it allows you to not be seen. Camouflage colours are about not wanting to be seen.' That'll stay with me forever. I've been reading everyone's posts for years about their frustrations with Bush/Blair and the 'war', but I'm from London - it's never felt this close to home until now.

It's just incredible that just a bit of painting can help people open up. After the workshop, two of my colleagues told me that the participants had never opened up like they did for those 2 hours. I love my job.

Danny Boy

That's a great story. Very moving and sad and confusing all at once. Just like war.

jlew24asu

its a disgrace how vets are treated.

Jeanwah

Stories like this is what the world needs to hear, thanks for sharing.

I have been able to hear other stories from soldiers and vets on PBS, otherwise, you just don't hear anything from the media.

norm

very touching story, thanks for conveying it.......

---

I speak for a man who gave for this land
Took a bullet in the back for his pay
Spilled his blood in the dirt and the dust
He's back to say:

What he has seen is hard to believe
And it does no good to just pray
He asks of us to stand
And we must end this war today

With his mind, he's saying, "No more!"
With his heart, he's saying, "No more!"
With his life he's saying, "No more war!"

With his eyes, he's saying, "No more!"
With his body, he's saying, "No more!"
With his voice, he's saying, "No more war!"

Yeah, nothing's too good for a veteran
Yeah, this is what they say
So nothing is what they will get
And there's no American way

The lies we were told to get us to go
Were criminal (?)... let us be straight
Let's get to the point where our voices get heard
And I know what I'll say

With his mind, he's saying, "No more!"
With his heart, he's saying, "No more!"
With his life he's saying, "No more war!"

With his eyes, he's saying, "No more!"
With his voice, he's saying, "No more!"
With his body, he's saying, "No more war!"

No more innocents dying
No more terror rising
No more eulogizing
No more evangelizing
No more presidents lying
No more war

With our minds, we're saying, "No more!"
With our hearts, we're saying, "No more!"
With our lives, we're saying, "No more war!"

hippiemom

jlew24asu wrote:

its a disgrace how vets are treated.

I absolutely agree.

These guys put their asses on the line because some fucker in a suit decides we're going to war (he doesn't have the decency to tell the guys on the front lines, or the people footing the bill, the REAL reasons), then they come home physically and/or psychologically damaged and what do they get? They get to paint pictures in a homeless shelter where, if they're lucky, someone like harmless_little_f*** will have the decency to take the time to listen to their story. Seems to me they deserve a little more than that.

toronado10

can you really join the Army at the age of 16 in London?

keeponrockin

jlew24asu wrote:

its a disgrace how vets are treated.

You know jlew, I don't agree with you often, but you're a smart guy.

And I'm behind you 100% on that.

dunkman

jlew24asu wrote:

its a disgrace how vets are treated.

its actually disgraceful how ALL homeless people are treated... he signed up to be a soldier, he signed up to kill people.. what makes him any different to another homeless person??? because he was a soldier?

we dont have conscription, and while this story is sad, its what he signed up for... he was a sniper and so perhaps robbed a mother and father of their son.. ok he doesnt have a house but he's still alive

Heineken Helen

dunkman wrote:

its actually disgraceful how ALL homeless people are treated... he signed up to be a soldier, he signed up to kill people.. what makes him any different to another homeless person??? because he was a soldier?

we dont have conscription, and while this story is sad, its what he signed up for... he was a sniper and so perhaps robbed a mother and father of their son.. ok he doesnt have a house but he's still alive

I agree completely with every word.

If soldiers refused to fight wars they don't believe in... and if it were left down to the MEN who start them... how many wars do you think we'd REALLY have to put up with?

I'm sorry, Iknow many of you have families and stuff... but I don't fall for this 'I was just following orders' crap. It never sounded good coming from the nazis and it doesn't sound good now. Nobody can PHYSICALLY make you fight.