More from Rupa Marya
Consistency of Jell-O
(00:11:30)
From: Rupa Marya
Erik describes himself as a prisoner in his own body. Back from Iraq with a Traumatic Brain Injury, it's not hard to see why.
The Lone Ranger of Looney Valley
(00:07:22)
From: Rupa Marya
No better place to see the widening gap between conservatives and liberals than in front of Harry Aleo's storefront window in San Francisco.
A Family Yarn
(00:07:03)
From: Rupa Marya
In the wake of NAFTA, a family of woolen mill workers in Maine salvages their livelihoods by returning the industry of yarn-making to the home.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
John Marchelletta is a Marine veteran of the current conflict in Iraq who can't sleep at night since he has returned to his home in Gardiner, Maine. In this story, John relates a disturbing incident in which two young Iraqi girls are accidentally shot during an ambush at night when the US Marines were on the way to Baghdad. It chronicles his unsettled understanding of what happened that night and hints at the lasting effects of combat, beyond the increasing casualty counts. It is the kind of story that is common in war but not yet widely heard, showing how global policies enacted by a few create lifelong consequences in ordinary people, not just those who are "collatoral damage" but those soldiers sent as agents of these policies.
11 Comments
|
Review of Johnny Comes HomeThis piece, in just 7+ minutes incredibly captures some deep human feelings resulting from facing incomprensible (to a North American) war strategies, the soldier's need to survive, then displaying a meditation on horrific consequences. The marine remembers, struggles with the memory - debating whether the situation was intended or unintended. Has much the same feel as Crane's "Red Badge of Courage" I guess the question remaining at the end: When will we ever learn. |
|
|
Review of Johnny Comes HomeIts an old story: a soldier finds out what war is about the hard way, he is damaged psychologically after an appalling accident. An unobtrusive (and unheard) interviewer takes him through the most harrowing time he will probably ever have in graphic detail. Though he has justified his actions to himself, niggling doubts remain, as do the dreams. |
Musical Works
There Were no Footprints in the Dust Behind Them, Esmerine, If Only a Sweet Surrender to the Nights to Come Be True, Resonant.
Of 3 purchasers of this piece...
- 3 also bought:
The Gathering - A Modern Thanksgiving Story (00:29:00) - 3 also bought:
The Grandma Plan (00:29:00) - 2 also bought:
The USA Plan (00:29:04) - 2 also bought:
Moving Targets (00:28:56) - 2 also bought:
The Other Iraq (00:28:56)
David Weinberg
Posted on May 29, 2007 at 05:39 PM | Permalink
Review of Johnny Comes Home
I hear this story and I know that factually, it is true and this actually happened and is still happening, and yet part of me can't believe it. It fills me with rage and I wonder how can this be happening, how can these things be going on. Stories like this are an example of how the true nature of war affects us on th eindivdual human level. I hope to see more voices from the war speaking up about what is going on.