Johnny's family and friends hold a
going away party for Johnny. Dress code for the party is Army fatigues.
Johnny is seventeen and just graduated from high school and will be
going off to boot camp and then to Afghanistan. American rite of
passage, beautiful cannon fodder.
Johnny says in boot camp he's going to
learn how to jump out of air planes. At his party he learned how to
down shots and pour a glass of beer with a proper header. American rite of passage,
beautiful cannon fodder.
Johnny's car that he built with his
father will be placed in storage for him until he returns. Johnny is
the absolute best of Midwest, middle-class (disappearing) America. Johnny is a
beautiful kid. I know, I photographed his party. Be
safe, I told him. Beautiful cannon fodder.
What kind of man will the Army make of
Johnny? What kind of man will he become in Afghanistan?
 |
| Tillman |
 |
| Wuterich |
Will Johnny become like Pat Tillman who
learned what was really going on and was going to tell it? Or will he
become like Frank Wuterich of Haditha infamy?
Or will Johnny become a member of the
growing number military suicides? (Or will he be suicided?) This is
what is happening to the best of Americans (those that can't keep up with the killing) that join the military to
become part of America's “war on terror”.
Be careful, Johnny. Truth is a delicate
matter these days. Telling may get you labeled a terrorist... or it may get you dead. If you learn the truth, that our soldiers aren't fighting for
America's freedoms but fighting to enslave others to the same masters that they are enslaved to, be careful with
that truth. Be careful who you tell.
Oh Johnny, beautiful Johnny. When you
return to your car, to your family and friends, what kind of man will
you be?
Be careful, Johnny. Be safe. Beautiful
cannon fodder.
4 comments:
My Gregg refused the draft and came up to Canada, 1971. He knew the truth as well as anyone but the poverty (non-legal person), loneliness, and finally the 40 degree cold killed him cock stiff dead. I like to think ,to the death defiance is the message he leaves the war mongers. By the way, he haled from just outside Detroit.
I salute your Gregg, rubbell.
I counseled my two daughters to stay out of the military. I told them I'd be much prouder of them, if they'd stay out and make it on their own, without free room and board, free medical, free roof over their heads, etc.
I wasn't so much afraid that they may be killed, but that they'd become dehumanized and emotionally damaged beyond repair.
I am just grateful that there has never been a member of my family who has served... going back at least 400 years. But then, I am not in the U.S.
Beautiful cannon fodder indeed.
Military men are dumb pawns to be used up towards a political goal according to the elite.
Too bad no one told Johnny that!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Noor.
Since I was the photographer, the only thing I could tell him before I left was: Be safe.
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