On 2002-06-02 08:15:00, Anonymous wrote:
American P.O.W.'s no thats to funny hahaha hehehe! Have ya ever talked to a real P.O.W. maybe you should try it sometime! hahaha cant stop laughing... get real
As a matter of fact, I have. When I was around 12 years old, I attended a reunion for the surviving officers and crew of the USS Carrier Enterprise with my father. I was honored to meet Mr. Eugene McDaniel. So my dad bought me a copy of his book, Before Honor. Although the Program is not quite as bad as the Hanoi Hilton in many respects, in some ways it's worse.
For example, I never imagined the possibility that I wouldn't get out alive. For Mr. McDaniel it was a pervasive part of his daily reality. But in fact, at least one boy who I knew fairly well in the Program did die as a result of injuries susteined during a days long marathon. How many more have been sent to prison and are now dying of AIDS or Hepatitus as a result of prison rape behind this unholy war?
But guests of the Hanoi Hilton had one thing that we lacked; the prospect of getting home. While Mr. McDaniels was told repeatedly by his captors that his wife was making time with the hippies, that his children didn't respect him and his country had forgotten him, he was able to keep in his mind that these were lies. We, on the other hand, were hearing it directly from our own parents every week at mic talk.
Personally, I did hang onto the prospect of escape. I knew that, one day, I'd either 7th step or come of age or just split again and not get dragged back. But a lot of my fellow POWs, who lacked the experience I had as a longtime observer of the Program and how it worked, were overwhelmed by the environment and lost hope utterly.
And I did, indeed, escape. But, unlike Mr. McDaniel, I found that what they were saying was true. My family didn't want me any more. For some months, I had not one friend, not one relative who would take me in.
I count myself unimaginably lucky that my father defected, at great personal cost, and was there for me for moral support and help when I needed it most. Plenty of my fellow POWs weren't so lucky.
But the worst part, the most demoralizing aspect of this war--and I think a lot of POWs of foreign war would agree--has been watching over the years as the enemy who tormented us have insinuated themselves into the halls of power of our beloved our homeland.
They haven't succeeded in completely overthrowing the America, although they've pretty nearly got full control of the United States. But if you think it can't happen here, we're halfway there.
By the way, who the hell are you and why won't you sign your name?
_________________
Ginger Warbis ~ Antigen
American P.O.W. 10/80 - 10/82
Straight South (Sarasota, FL)
Anonymity Anonymous
[ This Message was edited by: Antigen on 2002-06-02 09:48 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Antigen on 2002-06-02 09:55 ]