Driving home last evening in the all-too-early darkness since "Fall Back," my companion and I were chatting, as we usually do. Our topics of conversation vary greatly, and it's usually not "girly stuff." This time was no exception
We are concerned for a young church member who is suffering from post traumatic distress syndrome, having recently returned from what must have been an horrific tour of duty in the Middle East Conflict. If you're a praying person, please be sure to mention the men and women of our armed forces, and all those in harm's way.
What this young man is currently experiencing brought to mind the experience of a college friend who had served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. (Ever notice how all our "non-wars" are "Conflicts?") My friend's ship came under attack and an enemy shell struck the magazine (ammunition section), blowing the ship to smithereens and causing all sorts of injuries. He survived without serious physical damage, but for years thereafter was startled almost to the point of fainting at any loud, unexpected noise. I don't know that he ever completely recovered from the experience.
In a complete departure from that painful subject, I suddenly began to wonder why the word "magazine" is a used both in a military sense and as a descriptor for such things as The Ladies Home Journal. This morning, I looked it up: the answer is below, compliments of dictionary.com
"Origin:
1575–85; < F magasin < It magazzino storehouse < Ar makhāzin, pl. of makhzan storehouse; in E figuratively, as “storehouse of information,” used in book titles (from c1640) and periodical titles (in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1731)"
Later, with more cheerful things.
7 comments:
Good Morning (or Evening!!) Pat,
There must be so many people (and animals too) who have been damaged by war and other things, and haven't found a way to be set free from it.
I have had a number of friends who had settled in NZ after WW2 and still were haunted by it. Sadly, sometimes it seemed to get worse as they got older.
One friend (who died several years back), was in the British Royal Navy in WW2, and was very sad and disturbed when he heard of a Russian submarine that sank in slightly odd circumstances in the late 1990s. There had been speculation in the media that it may have struck a WW2 mine, and my friend had been on a mine layer that had been in that area in the war. The news of the sinking sub brought the war years back to him, and guilt for what what he feared he may have done, worried and haunted him.
I had never thought of the uses of the word Magazine before.. It is interesting.
I must put some more flowers and sunny photos on my site to help cheer you through winter. All my trees are covered in fresh green leaves at the moment. They look excited to be alive with the Spring sunshine on them! Everything growing madly. Our Old Post Office is getting hard to find amongst the vegetation!
Peter .... after such a serious subject I'll send these too! xxx ++ hugs! :)
Sending best thoughts for your friend, Pat. It's a topic near and dear to my heart - with my military son, and all. I hope your friend finds true peace soon.
Hi Pat, We do need to remember those who have returned home after being in the service fighting for our freedom, in our prayers. This country needs to offer help for these soldiers.... Sometimes they are forgotten.. I hope your church will help that young man.
Great post --and one we all need to get involved with....
Hugs,
Betsy
It must be why I have such difficulty with these *conflicts*. If they are wars, then they should be declared as such. If I remember correctly, we are still in conflict with Korea. I do pray daily for those men and women who are members of our military. The horrors they have seen and live with. The damage that has been done to them and us .. in lives lost and lives mangled beyond repair. Too sad.
It's so sad that our service personal have to endure such things as a personal conflict as post traumatic distress syndrome. My brother had a horrible time when he came home from the Vietnam War. Your young church member is in my prayers, as are the rest of our brave men and women serving in the military.
I have a young, single neighbour who is similarly traumatised by his tour of duty in the Midde East.
In Britain, Guy Fawkes night is celebrated on November 5, but the fireworks often go on for several days, so as soon as the first bangs are heard, P. becomes our house guest for the duration. He is a nervous wreck with every explosion. The nightmares that that young man has are evidence enough to me of the damage that has been wrought and that our boys should be withdrawn.
My heart cries out for these damaged young people... x
Those who return are casulaties also though they never appear in the statistics. They survive but they will never be "normal". Parts are damaged, some physical but many are mental. They have seen and done things no one should ever have to.
Love how those who declare war, never leave the comforts of their castles. War is man's stupidest invention.
Your young person is in my prayers along with the rest of the damaged souls "conflicts" have created.
Good post Pat.
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