Seattle Art Museum Visit

For my museum visit, I went to the Seattle Art Museum because I knew they had a diverse range of artworks and had two of Joseph Cornell’s boxes and a few of his collages in their permanent collection. I was disappointed to find that after I looked through everything there and asked a guide, his pieces were not on display at the moment. I was so excited to see a Cornell box up close in person, but oh well. There were a few cool things to see there, along with a lot of, dare I say, boring crap. I tend to be very picky about the art that interests me and I found that a lot of what I was seeing at SAM was either pretty dull or I had a hard time finding the meaning in it or considering it to be “fine art”.  However, there was definitely some good work to see.

I was very excited to see four of Carrie Mae Weems’ beautiful black and white photographs. I know we’ve discussed her work around domestic space quite a bit in class, so it was really cool to see her prints so large and in person.

 


The piece that I found to be most relevant to my project was a black and white photograph entitled Coney Island Boardwalk, Man by Roy DeCarava. It had a nostalgic quality to it that reminded me of the reasons I wanted to use black and white photography in my work during this quarter.  I think it must be a pretty rare photograph too because I can’t even find it on Google; which kind of makes it even cooler that I got to see it at the museum. I’ve done a little research on the artist and many of his other photographs have a “home life” quality to them that appeals to me a lot. I think discovering him was the best thing I took away from going to SAM.

There was also a painting that I connected to that was called How My Mother’s Embroidered Apron Unfolds in My Life by Arshile Gorky. This abstract painting coupled with its descriptive title makes me think that is represents a memory or attempts to encapsulate a particular relationship within the artist’s life, which is basically what I aim to do in each of my boxes.

Another thing I enjoyed quite a bit was “The Porcelain Room” because it sort of reminded me of a giant assemblage. They pieced together a huge display of porcelain objects, all found from various time periods and places of origin. The display describes how porcelain was once very valuable but has become commonplace now and that this room is there way of making these artifacts special again. This is similar to the way I want to treat the objects in my work. 

So, basically, the point of this post is for me to say that they didn’t have what I went to the museum to see, but I ended up discovering some pretty cool new stuff instead.

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

 

 

 

 

Who knew I would be in a plane with a killer

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.