(no subject)

[hummingwolf]

Woke up far too early because of animal noises outside (probably raccoons fighting over somebody's garbage). Decided to read New Yorker article about abuses at Abu Ghraib. Saw a few of the famous photos too. I'd read comments about what went on, but had avoided details until this morning. Disturbing? Yeah, that's a bit of an understatement. Amazing how quickly the least vestiges of human decency can be jettisoned.

Maybe it's time to try sleeping again.

Comments

[blue-by-you.livejournal.com]

The abuses were certainly terrible but having heard about them for days, I think I was prepared for that part, so the most disturbing part of the article to me was the court testimony by the witness (one of the good guys!) and how he called one of the Iraqi POWs "it" rather than he. I had commented in my journal about that very thing--how part of the Us vs Them game is to make Them less than human, but it still caught me off-guard to see it so clearly. And I like how the journalist, in one case, put [sic] after the "it" ...yeah.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed that in your journal. Maybe it's strange, but the "its" didn't surprise me. Maybe it's just because I don't see how someone could do that to another human being and *not* think of them as "it" rather than "he" or "she."

[blue-by-you.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know what you mean. The thing is, though, this young man was giving his statement in court not just talking to his buddies back in the barracks. It must have been that unconscious for him to have done it. That ingrained. And he wasn't one of the abusers. He was one of the soldiers who turned them in.

Hi!

[mommybabou.livejournal.com]

I know you from Vic's journal (snowmerlin) but today I found my way into your info page by looking up people who had listed Angelique Kidjo in their interests. I've been listening to your Launchcast radio station for the past hour or so and I love it!

I've added you to my friends list. Please let me know if you object.

Annie

Re: Hi!

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

No objections from me! Glad you like the Launchcast station--I've rated so many songs since the last time I listened to it, I don't even know what it sounds like anymore.

Re: Hi!

[mommybabou.livejournal.com]

It sounds great! Kind of eclectic which is perfect for my varied tastes in music!