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'Most severely wounded' soldier: Parents Go Broke Paying For Medical Care

iht.com — He lies flat, unseeing eyes fixed on the ceiling, tubes and machines feeding him, breathing for him, keeping him alive. He cannot walk or talk, but he can grimace and cry. And he is fully aware of what has happened to him. Four years ago almost to this day, Joseph Briseno Jr. was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range in a Baghdad marke

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  • SaudiOrthMuslim, on 10/11/2007, -139/+46At least he died (or almost died) for a good cause: Bush's oil.
    • jstohler, on 10/11/2007, -8/+26This is a brutal story to read, and the incredible part is that the people who have the power to stop the destruction (Bush, Cheney, Lieberman) will never hear it.
      • nickerbocker, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Of course they won't see it. They are too busy making sure things that would benefit mankind such as stem cell research do not happen. If he thinks that "every life is precious" than he should open his ***** eyes and see how our soldiers' precious lives are being treated.
    • TherealObadiah, on 10/11/2007, -35/+9It's always raw politics with you evil leftists.
      • iamlgnd, on 10/11/2007, -4/+11So what's your point?

        It's evil trying to expose what a clusterf**k Iraq war is or how the wounded veteran are treated?

        • MxM111, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1removed, bury
          • longbow486, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@iamlgnd its that every time someone has to go and turn everything into a political spitfire.

            -god damn i hate this new comment system
        • Jagdwulfe, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Trying to politize it is the issue. Morons in politics both right and left will always try to profit off the suffering of others. Just look at John Edwards.
      • MaximumPig, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4everything is political, especially when a nation gets bullied and lied into an unjust illegal war and people like Joseph Briseno Jr. have to pay for it
    • Swordplough, on 10/11/2007, -17/+8Do you have to put politics into everything?

      For God's sake, thing about that poor boy and his family.
      • Myonosken, on 10/11/2007, -10/+1Idiot.
      • rnwen2750, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11I am thinking about the poor man and his family. But, in doing so, I must also (as a responsible, thinking person) logically examine the circumstances that put him there - an illegal war under false pretences.
        • Swordplough, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yes, I do understand your point. Well put indeed.
          But what it bothers me is the first comment on this article was about Bush. Politics is not my stronger side, and first thought that came to me was about how hard is all that for the family of the poor man.
      • MaximumPig, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1amen rnwen2750
    • MarrowMan, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3I can hear your sarcasm, or at least I"m trying to :P
    • MxM111, on 10/11/2007, -4/+17Of course it is about politics. The article is about family, it's suffering and running out of money. Every rational being reading this should ask a question to himself: what went wrong, how to avoid this in future and what can be fixed in the present. And that leads to politics. Oh would you rather read this kind of articles and do nothing except saying Oh! and Ah! ???
    • BESTenemy, on 10/11/2007, -11/+9He got struck down while protecting interests of his corporate masters, financed by your tax dollars. They make the decisions to send people to war. You pay for it. You can say whatever you want, but your actions speak louder than words.
    • P5ycHo, on 10/11/2007, -7/+5He'd better recover fast, the Iran war is around the corner .....
    • donwilson2, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3We went to this war for oil and yet gasoline prices are at record highs.

      Good thing when anyone says that the war is for oil, they never have to provide proof because it just sounds right.
    • PleaseJustDie, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Sorry for the comment abuse, but I've got to point out a serious flaw with the submitted headline. FTA: "December 2003, he went home, to Manassas Park, Virginia, where his parents, Joseph Sr. and Eva, quit their jobs to care for him." He was wounded during service, his medical care is 100% covered by the military, all his medications, treatments, everything. His parents didn't go broke "Paying for medical care" they went broke because they quit their jobs to take care of him.

      Its bad that they are broke and they have to take care of him and its bad that this happened, but saying they went broke because they have to pay for 100% tax payer funded medical care provided by the military is wrong. So I'm marking this inaccurate because the submitter is inventing a headline that is actually invalidated by the article itself.
    • goffy59, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2While the stupid morons argue about left and right, America lays in *****!
      • smackywentz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
        And I'm wondering what it is I should do,
        It's so hard to keep this smile from my face,
        Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place,
        Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right,
        Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
    • jamesallen74, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If he lived in France, the parents wouldn't be broke.
  • sensei_zebub, on 10/11/2007, -19/+195Now that the war is through with me
    I'm waking up, I cannot see
    That there is not much left of me
    Nothing is real but pain now

    Hold my breath as I wish for death
    Oh please, ___, wake me
    • anidal, on 10/11/2007, -5/+40I was thinking about the same exact song when reading the article...

      "...Landmine has taken my sight
      Taken my speech
      Taken my hearing
      Taken my arms
      Taken my legs
      Taken my soul
      Left me with life in hell"
      • affanjam, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Why don't you people come over here to Canada, we have 3,854,085 sq mi area to cover and most of its just empty land..
        • fantasticFlan, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8Many of us would rather fix the country we love than abandon it. Appreciate the offer though, I'll keep it in mind.
        • rnwen2750, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Much like with naughty children, I cannot abandon a rogue nation (yet). I still have hope that we can turn this nation around and learn to truly love one another.
        • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Eventually we the people will man up and spank our politicians. Until then we need to prepare for that day.
      • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1You forgot to mention it's FROZEN land. No thanks I think I will stay where I am.
    • positron, on 10/11/2007, -12/+35you misspelled God there.
      • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -6/+15It was to allow your choice of religious entity
        • BlackCow, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1oh... i thought he misspelled "flying spaghetti monster"
      • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6or other important figure
        • Rizmaster, on 10/11/2007, -10/+2Well it least it wasn't something stupid like reverence for a particular imaginary entity.
      • wycheck89yo, on 10/11/2007, -3/+21sure, but the song says God.
    • choppinbroccoli, on 10/11/2007, -2/+22I really miss the days of ...And Justice For All. What a great album.
      • evilregis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11I miss the days when Metallica didn't suck.
        • shadowspawn, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1that album was mixed so BADLY with the bass too.
      • anidal, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Yeah, the whole Lars and music copyright issue just ruined it for me.
    • Shandooga, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8I wonder if the guy in the bed thinks of this song. What a horrible story.
    • xOpifex, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Exact same thing I was thinking.
    • dmkemick, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I thought of One too...the video especially. It's terrifying, I can't think of anything worse to have to endure.
    • jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4That song is about a book, "Johnny Got His Gun" a fictional account of a soldier in the vietnam war that lost his limbs, and face. It had a very strong voice in the anti-war movement. It's definitely worth reading.
      • cryofmankind, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3The book is actually about a World War I soldier, since it was written in 1938
      • anidal, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Well, now it can be about an Iraq War vet.
      • popltree2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Awesome book! Read it in HS.
    • cardyology, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3There is something seriously macabre about the box thing the guy has on his face in that video. Still, ... its not as bad as the poor guy whos actually suffering like this in real life..
    • wetdirtmud, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1Emo fag
    • steveoco, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Exactly what I was thinking
    • Pinhedd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You misspelled "God" pal, I'm an athiest myself but I take more offense at your omission at the word (I love the song by the way). This guy nearly died for your right to say it, so dont step on it, just do it.
  • dildoolielly, on 10/11/2007, -77/+342To deal w/ this piece of sh*t country..

    I have seriously given up on the notion that this country will ever be something that I can be proud of. Our government is run by a bunch of corrupt morons and it is supported by a bigger bunch of bigger morons who have no decent sense of right and wrong, but instead think "morality" is all about bombing innocent people into Democracy and trying to legislate what people have intercourse rather than about honesty or how people should treat one another.

    The only way to approach this country and all of the backwoods idiots in it is to use their own stupid policies against them to get richer and richer so that you have enough money that you never have to be in the same room as any of them and you don't have to send your kids to school with any of them, and when the time comes, you can move to Canada or Europe when things get even more crappy here.

    Bye bye hillbilly, bible-thumping freaks!! Enjoy your speudo-patriot-act-restricted-"freedom" in your illiterate, poverty stricken counties! Hope your 'prayer in schools' makes you feel better about how bad your lives suck!!! Hope you enjoy licking the bottoms of the Bush family's shoes while you wear your size extra-large Walmart outfits and eat hamburger helper for dinner for the rest of your pathetic lives!!!
    • TheSavant, on 10/11/2007, -6/+59More and more people are starting to feel this way. How can this be? Everyone needs to take a step back from Fox "News" and realize what you have done. This man gave almost everything up for America. This is how we treat him. Try talking to returning troops about their health care. Ask them about the joy of getting disability. Ask them what it is like to go to a VA center for treatment of anything. Of course, there are more important things to take care of first. Flag burning and gay marriage come to mind. The Bush followers believe we must "stay the course", while not knowing what "the course" happens to be. What about the contractors around the world? It is very hard to see the KBR guys doing the same job as you for $130k/year more than you while you protect them. After that you come home and are crapped on by your own government and citizens for doing this service. Don't worry, America, we are soldiers. We are airmen, marines and sailors. We can take it. And you? You get to look the other way. We can take it.
      • TherealObadiah, on 10/11/2007, -31/+2Such ugly, hateful comments. Lemme guess, you're an open-minded, tolerant liberal, right?
        • rnwen2750, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Much like those from the right. Oh wait, the right on digg just yells about killing "terrists" and how liberals are the moral scum of the earth and that Jesus would kill abortion doctors. Please.
      • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13actually he isnt - he's probably a veteran with an order of magnitude more knowledge on the subject than you.
      • iceperson, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1Last I checked the Dems controlled both houses. If they want us out they can make it happen (or at least bring a vote to the floor everyday to end the war until it happens.)
        • 30thElement, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0There are not just the Dems version and the Republicans version to every issue, and the two views are not always opposite. Think before you blame the Dems.
        • Apoc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I'm not sure what the article was, but it was on Digg a few days ago about how it appears more and more now that there is no two party system in the US anymore. The only chance it seems we really have is complete governmental reform. Passing laws doesn't work anymore, the system's gone to *****.
      • orlyfactor, on 10/11/2007, -3/+22@TherealObadiah:
        How does it feel being OWNED? I'm sick and tired of how liberals are demonized. It's so bad to care about other people, right? We should all be selfish, me me me conservatives, right?! Is that how you want the ***** country to be run? Assholes, all of you.
      • thesixthdesign, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1No one watches FOX news.
    • GlenLeafJr, on 10/11/2007, -49/+6Maybe you should go ahead and move to Canada or Europe?
    • brstilson, on 10/11/2007, -19/+8Just think. If we'd have let the South secede from the union in the first place, then we wouldn't have to deal with these stupid hillbilly presidents that keep getting elected into office.

      On that note, we should also consider just kicking California out. The day we get a president from California is the day I move to Canada.
      • MarrowMan, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Canada wouldn't want an ignoramus like you anyway.
      • Tourney3p0, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Actually you might be right. If the south had seceded from the union and stayed that way, state rights in the south would take precedence over federal mandates. The individual state could then decide what was *****, as opposed to now when federal law takes over. You'd see people from California and New England moving to the south in droves. But then again, slavery might still be around and that would suck.
      • Chunken, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1The United Republic of Hillbillies would probably be attacking the US because they hate our freedom.
    • Bit0, on 10/11/2007, -51/+9WELL THEN GET THE ***** OUT!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!! NOW!!!!!
      • iamlgnd, on 10/11/2007, -3/+18Considering Bush approval rating, it is you who should "GET THE ***** OUT".

        After all it is you and people like you who are outnumbered in America.
      • Bit0, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3US Marines are outnumbered in America, you're right.
        • nmckinlay, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I've just lost yet another ounce of respect for you guys.
      • rnwen2750, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3REALLY US MARINES ARE TAUGHT TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS?!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • TheUngod, on 10/11/2007, -22/+8I'm sorry you feel this way, it is a sad state we are in, but unfortunately it just sounds like you're whining. You don't like it that's fine, do something about it. Bitching on digg won't help this country or make you happier with it.
      • digboy99, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2You have to excuse him. His mom didn't replenish his cheesy poofs.
      • smackywentz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Nothing will or don't you realize? We can do nothing. And don't give me the write your politicians line. What am I going to write him, hey I want you and your buddies to get the ***** out? First he won't ever read it, and if he did, please. There is nothing we can do because some people are still so wrapped up in left and right. Divide and conquer, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Until everybody ***** learns the only way to fix this is to UNITE then, nothing will ever change. SO I reiterate, nothing will ever change.
    • Skavenblight, on 10/11/2007, -4/+36Come to Canada. We have polar bears. Seriously, any country with polar bears is officially home to the most hardcore of the hardcore.

      Oh and we have mapple syrup.
      • dutchb0y, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Maple... though the Mapple syrup sounds tasty. And yes, Polar Bears are hardcore. Churchill MB, w00t!
      • 1337Einstein, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1SEE!!! Canada is packed with those Godless Killing Machines!!! How could we have let Steven JR. go over there?
      • JackOCat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Unfortunately we have our own conservative version of Bush up here (Harper). Luckily though he only has a minority government and only because of a major recent scandal in the mainstream progressive party and the fact that we have one conservative party and like 4 progressive liberal ones (tonnes of vote splitting).

        If we had the government we have now back when Iraq 2.0 started, we would be stuck there with you.
    • ScornForSega, on 10/11/2007, -7/+23The south? GWB is a product of New England, *****. Born there and went to school there.

      And Reagan was governor of California before he was president, so I think you're almost 30 years late for your emigration to Canada. Better get moving.
    • jheathupton, on 10/11/2007, -17/+6I echo Bit0, if you hate it here so much, then go to a better country like cuba, russia, china, maybe north korea... As a former soldier (iraq twice among other places), I can say that I enlisted of my own free will. We all fight for your freedom to spit in our faces and tell us that our comrades gave their lives for nothing. You obviously haven't seen the kids running out to the streets to greet the soldiers, or the girls that get to go to school for the first time ever, or the signs that say thank you Mr. bush, or the waves from below the helo.... America is the greatest country period, and would be much better if you took your own advice and left.
      • Moocat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Nobody is spitting in your face. What we are saying is that we don't believe the war had a just cause to begin with and extension of the same will only lead to more death and hatred. While there is SOME progress, it's in very isolated areas and quickly overrun once we move out of the area we just enhanced. We are also not idiots, there are countries out there that are clearly worse than ours, but you cannot honestly say we are the best when there are in fact other options that are just as good, or better.
      • Chunken, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8I respect every soldier that fights for our country, but this war has absolutely NOTHING to do with protecting our freedom.
      • goffy59, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Oh shut the ***** up you ***** tool. Go to china? That's not even ***** sensible. Why dont you mention countries that have way better policies and more freedom, and not communist countries. Wait your a ***** waste of space thats why. Go ***** yourself *respectively.
      • walkingdogs, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Too bad we are embroiled in a war over a country and a man who had absolutely NOTHING to do with 9/11, had NO WMD's had attacked NO ONE since the 80's and has NO means of attacking American soil. Too bad we are embroiled in a war that has alienated us from all of our allies and has made even more people of the world wish this country Ill will. Too bad we are embroiled in a war that has empowered 1000's more middle eastern men and women to turn into suicide bombers and be willing to do whatever they have to instill more fear in the American people enabling our government to continue to blindly strip away our freedoms which we hold so sacred. Too bad that the war we are embroiled in was ill conceived with no understanding of the region and the dynamics of the country we invaded and has put us in a 5 year quagmire with more soldiers dieing than civilians died in 9/11. Too bad we are embroiled in a war that by many accounts has taken more Iraqi lives than Saddam took over his whole reign and if there are less deaths in this war it's irrefutable that they are dying at a much higher rate than under Saddam. Too bad we are embroiled in a war that has put an undo strain on our military forces and made honorable people like you have to take a chance with your life to serve the pocket fattening of Bush/ Cheney and their corporate buddies. Too bad we are embroiled in a war that allows the true attackers of our country to gain strength while their mastermind sits like a fat cat in a cave laughing at us and our stupidity as a people getting the wool pulled over our eyes giving in blindly to whatever our elected officials want to do with no check or balance.
      • arTech, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3LOL
        I am a soldier also. I've been to Iraq twice with 3rd ID (TF 1-64 to be exact) and I have not witnessed any of the "talking points" that you just described. All I saw was death, destruction, hatred and I didn't even get a t-shirt (but I did get a mild case of PTSD).

        Where the hell did you serve? Airport (Camp Liberty)
        • jheathupton, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1My parent was cjtf-sotf 7 I was near Victory when at base, but I had missions in ar ramadi, al qaim, tikrit, falluja, and others. And I saw more death and destruction than I care to talk about. The bigger cities had quite a few problems obviously, but when you get away from those it isn't as bad as it is portrayed. I met a guy who refused to serve saddam any longer... his wife and daughter was gang raped in front of him, and then one of his arms was removed. This happened to countless others... I will never forget his thanks or the sadness in his eyes. Anyway I would be more pissed at your roe (being conventional army) than anything else. It's almost like you have to fight with your hands tied behind your back or something. If you go back for a 3rd time, I wish you well and safe.
        • arTech, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I am going back for the third time. It sucks but hey I volunteered and I won't complain. Look, Saddam was evil but to think that they're better off now is just wrong. They hate us and they will always hate each other more and will never have peace. I've served in what is now outside of the green zone. First time around there were no camps, park your vehicle and sleep so to say. They we went and built (or rather kicked some paramilitary unit out of Falljah compound) and built Falljah. Last tour I served in Sadr City and UN Compound, place that I thought could get run over at any minute.
          I am now going with a another unit, poorly prepared all young recruits who have no friking idea what they're doing and getting themselves into. I don't even wanna get to know them, I lost too many friends in 24 months over there.
          • jheathupton, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I guess I can't say for sure that they are truly better off as a whole. Some are, some are not. It just bothered me as we were flying to and fro that saddam could have all these nice palatial compound, and everyone else had nothing... Now they have a chance but it seems to me that maybe freedom has been beaten out of their nature. I just wish they didn't hate us because I can't help but love them... I will keep you and yours in my prayers. You've got quiet a bit of experience by now so lead well and I wish you a safe return.
    • Shandooga, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7"I have seriously given up on the notion that this country will ever be something that I can be proud of. Our government is run by a bunch of corrupt morons and it is supported by a bigger bunch of bigger morons who have no decent sense of right and wrong,"
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
      "Why do my eyes hurt"
      "Because you've never used them before" --the Matrix.
    • flashboy131, on 10/11/2007, -5/+6to be honest with you, I think most countries are run like the US, I mean that corruption has been in politics forever and always will be. With the internet we have just heard more about it is all. Ignorance is bliss I guess.
      • Philodox, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Have you ever been to Canada? Stuff that is a national scandal in Canada wouldn't even register on the radar in the U.S. For example: the Liberal party used federal money to advertise against Quebec separation. Seems simple enough, right? Well there was a several year inquest into it and it was partly to blame for the Liberals losing the last federal election.

        The United States' *attorney general* is being accused of breaking the law, and it barely registers on the radar.
      • Syntaxis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I agree with Philodox on this one. Most countries are absolutely not run like the USA, although China comes close. Forcing freedom-restricting laws upon the people for the greater good of the nation. Freedom? The illusion of freedom, maybe..

        Where I live (Holland, Europe) the least amount of corruption would cause the government to simply fall. If we don't trust our government, we get them out. We make them resign. If our government wants us to pass a big law (European Constitution) they ASK us first, and hold a referendum. In our case we massively disliked this constitution, and voted "no".

        Your president on the other hand.. well, you know the rest.
    • knupso, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9Nice blame the south for allowing the federal government get in the state it is.Last time I checked all the states in the union have their fair share of jackass politicians.
    • Ricemanstm, on 10/11/2007, -21/+4@dildo
      ***** you. Simple, succinct and to the point. You know what? Yeah, war sucks. Anybody that loves war is sick, but to blame the entire population of the US for this, you're seriously ***** in the head. If you hate it so much here, you are free to leave. In fact, I'd love to kick your ass out of the country personally. So feel free ass hat.
    • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11@ Ricemanstm

      He's not blaming the US population. You're missing the point.
      • pifko1987, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Plus he's missing the point of threaded comments >.
    • petoria, on 10/11/2007, -3/+15i like hamburger helper
      • lattasource, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah I was totally with him until the Hamburger Helper comment....too soon, too soon.
      • PixelVision, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Hamburger helper makes ***** good!
    • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1@ BitO and how did your service in Iraq go? Oh...you had other priorities? how convenient. Reminds me of your beloved vice pres.
    • dbutters, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2yay! Bigotry disguised as moral outrage is fun!
    • RealHyperX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I server in Iraq (first one so not as bad as now). I also lived in many other countries, being born in Europe. My parents came here with nothing 20 years ago. Now my dad owns $3 mil worth of real estate property. Show me another country where you can become a millionaire as easily. I still love the US.
      • indicas, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1These days you can become a millionaire almost anywhere, easily (see Internet).
  • BrandonMills, on 10/11/2007, -24/+207Noone should have to go broke for medical care in our country. Stories like these shame the entire nation.
    • mikerand, on 10/11/2007, -5/+6This is government health care.
      • ChildeRoland420, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Why is this getting dugg down? He's right.
      • sibhod, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7It's getting dugg down because his statement makes it appear this is the logical consequence of gov. medicine, when actually this is the logical consequence of an incompetent government going unchecked. Socialized medicine can and does work, so place the blame where it belongs.
        • mikerand, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Socialized medicine may work elsewhere, but the same government that screwed this guy would be providing my health care if the U.S. goes that way. No Thanks.
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -5/+5I'm sure, like most people, you blame the government instead of Doctors and Medical companies who ensure that you have to pay top dollar to lie a life of health.
      • AxeSwinger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I do blame the government. In this case it's the VA which is a government run agency.
    • silkodyssey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+24I am not from the US so i am not sure how things work but doesn't/shouldn't the military take care of its woumded?
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -8/+15THEY DID NOT LOSE THEIR MONEY PAYING FOR HIS HEALTHCARE!!!!!!!!!!!! Read the story, the government is paying for his health care. They chose to quit their job to be with their son.
      • gopher043, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8You are an idiot. The family did spend their own money for his healthcare. the government did jack squat. It was a charity that helped out in finishing their basement, providing them with a generator and other things. The government does jack ***** for any of it's wounded soldiers. they are as expendable as plastic bags as far as the government is concerned. The VA doesn't even give him round the clock support. The family has to do all of it as well as live with it. The VA and the government can all go home, walk into their homes, eat a good meal, watch TV and then sleep soundly at night. These people can't anymore.
    • sibhod, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Politicians will demonize social medicine, while at the same time promote it for wounded veterans. On top of that, the gov. puts so little into actually caring for wounded vets it almost appears they are failing on purpose, at the cost of our troops, to prove a point about socialized medicine. As if we couldn't just look to our many world neighbors with social medicine far and above our "free market" quagmire.

      The whole thing is sickening.
    • jheathupton, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Brandon, maybe you should move to a country with "better" health care care and hope and pray that you don't get some life-threatening illness. You might not be seen for months unless you have your own privatized insurance. Let me tell you that free is not always good...
      @silkodyssey unfortunately the military doesn't take great care of it's soldiers (imo). The miltary's medical system is similiar to socialist style health care system, and it's sometimes quite difficult to get a medical situation resolved. Also, everything is cheaper (doctors, equipment) and as they say, you get what you pay for.... I am biased though, as a former serviceman, and a few unresolved medical problems of my own...
    • ayeroxor, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2"Noone should have to go broke for medical care"

      Who is Noone?
    • cmkennedy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3This young man is 100% disabled (no way they would've granted him any less). He's set for medical care for life from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Any injuries he sustained while in service and any subsequent medical conditions he develops which are determined to be caused by these injuries are 100% covered.

      In other words, they're not going broke for medical care. They aren't paying for it. So I suppose this means you can jump off your high horse.
    • jdavid, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6this is not medical care, this is a family that can not morn their son's tragedy because technology is in an uncanny valley of being able to sustain life in a not so desirable quality of life state. if you especially believe there is more to life than a beating heart, and being able to process oxygen, than you might not consider this living. i would not want to be kept alive under such terms, i would consider this selfish of my family, especially since i believe in an after life of sorts, what reason is there in being forced to breath by a machine for years?
  • meshman, on 10/11/2007, -75/+175"Parents Go Broke Paying For Medical Care"

    No, they didn't:

    "he went home, to Manassas Park, Virginia, where his parents, Joseph Sr. and Eva, quit their jobs to care for him."

    They didn't go broke paying for treatment, they went broke because they quit their jobs to care for him. In other words, although the US health care system is evil, it didn't blatantly drain every dime from these people. Beware the spin.
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -6/+26i noticed the same thing, it never says they were paying for any of his healthcare. US govt usually pays for all medicals relating to war.
      • turpenine, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1as much as I would like to believe this, it isn't always true.
    • sp1keNARF, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8thread over. you win.
    • carpespasm, on 10/11/2007, -4/+18there is a bit of spin to it, but in a condition like that, there's a need for pretty much constant attention. This sort of burden shouldn't be pushed onto someone's loved ones, it eats away at you...
      • doodlebumm, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7So do you want them to move the hospital to the city where the parents lived? Do you want the government (that's us, BTW) to pay for the family of every severely wounded soldier to be moved to be near their loved one (soldier) and provide a living for them? Do you want the soldiers to be moved to private hospitals near their families at a far greater cost to the government (that's us, BTW)? What is your solution? No one pushed the family to move. Yes, they did the right thing, but who's going to pay for all the right things? I don't know about you, but I try to give generously to GOOD charitable causes. We all should. The story of the Widow's mite shows who is doing the right thing. It certainly isn't being done by most of the obscenely wealthy. But, there is practically nothing that we can do to change that.

        So what is the right solution for all? I know I don't have the answer. Who's going to come up with a solution? Any solution has good and bad. I don't think that just complaining about a single problem is productive. It just stirs the pot and muddies the water. Yes, this is sad, but there are sadder things still than this in the world, and solving this problem could cause other problems. We live in a world of dependencies. The older I get the more I realize that this world is far too complex for us to solve. Humanity cannot come up with the answers.
        • Matt2k, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5> Do you want the government (that's us, BTW) to pay for the family of every severely wounded soldier to be moved to be near their loved one (soldier) and provide a living for them?

          You know, if we're talking about a mortally wounded soldier, paralyzed, blind, incapable of speech. Yeah. I think maybe we should.
          • smackywentz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Wouldn't let me reply to doodlebumm.

            I can't think of a better way to spend my tax dollars.
    • cveltma, on 10/11/2007, -8/+25Beware the spin indeed...

      I'm not particularly sure how stating that they left their jobs to care for him is spin...it specifically states that fact...
      Beyond that do you really think their life savings/retirement savings/fund raiser money was taken up entirely by the choice to leave their jobs and care for their son? Of course not, it specifically states they had fund raisers to purchase equipment for him. Equipment not provided by the government.

      I do call leaving out this piece of information DIRECTLY UNDER what you were referencing spinning the story. Seems to me the only one spinning this story is you.
      "All our savings, all our money, was just emptied ... the 401(k)s, everything," said Joseph Briseno, who took a new job a year and a half ago to make ends meet."
    • sailor, on 10/11/2007, -14/+8It is propaganda made just to get people like "dildooreilly" all worked up and full of hate for all people.
      The parents went broke for their own reasons...they did not have to care for him, they did not have to pay for the services he needed, it was not pushed upon them...they chose to do it. Now that we that out of the way...what is left?

      This is a product of war...nothing less, nothing more. The war is not about "bushes oil" and it never has been. Yes, the middle east has the majority of oil in the world...hmmm...maybe that is why they get so many questionable leaders trying to take control and keep control at all costs. That is why they gas their own people, that is why they murder any opposition, that is why they export or pay for terrorism. It is time for all of us to see the situation for what it is...not what some extremeist liberal would want you to believe...why do they want you to believe their spin on it all?...because they know most of you are not inttelligent enough to decide for yourselves what the truth is...they also know that most of you will gladly follow an emotional cause that sounds right, but in further inspection is merely a temporary fix intended to get votes, to keep power and to have control over the US.
      Hmmm...it seems that liberals and terrorists have a lot in common, doesn't it.
      WAKE UP !!!
      Don't but the BS and the HATE being put out by the left...they are vote whores, nothing more. Putting them in office will insure the wars will continue in the mid east, the US will still be sending foriegn aid (many billions of dollars more than what is being spent on the war) and we will likely face further attacks both physical and economic (yes, oil. Your liberal leaders won't let us drill in the US or offshore, something that would likely end our dependance on foreign oil)
      hmmm...
      • KyleDoherty, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3I find it curious that rather than express concern and regret over the fact that a fellow person is as ***** up as that because of a war, regardless of whose paying for his care or why we're at war, that you're rambling on about democrats being evil. Aside from the fact that you're mostly incorrect and don't provide proof of your claims, your response is why this country sucks taint right now, you don't give a ***** about anyone else and are always focused on the "enemy."
      • biotique, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4"liberals and terrorists have a lot in common" - who's the retarded fear monger again?

        And it's the liberal "BS and HATE" that sent troops to Iraq in the first place, you dumbass? Who was in the office when the war started, what were the reasons to go to war, who's in the office now, are we still at war with Iraq? So you claim you're "inttelligent" (sic) enough?
      • smackywentz, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Why don't you two just shut the ***** up?
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -7/+8@capespasm

      if you read the article, the VA is paying for round the clock nurses for the son. the parents aren't paying for nurses to come to that house.
      • noch, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10"The family has help from VA-provided nurses, but not around the clock."
        i suggest u re-read the article . . .
        • hifiDesign, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4No *****... What article are you guys reading... I see:

          Various charities, especially Rebuilding Together, raised money to renovate their basement, supply a backup generator for the medical equipment, and install a lift so they can hoist... My wife and I [...] are the respiratory technician, we are the physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists ... his wound care nurse," Joseph Briseno said.

          The family has help from VA-provided nurses, but not around the clock.

          Are you naysayers taking this family's permanent ***** situation as some personal insult to your hawkish agenda to pave over the world with MOABs and BFGs so you can put Walmarts and fundamentalist Churches everywhere?
    • skrowl, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Why would the submitter bother to read the actual article he's submitting? If he can attack the US, which he clearly hates so dearly, why would he bother with little things like facts?
    • cbuddha42, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1I noticed the same thing.

      Still, don't sign up for combat duty if you aren't ready for the consequences. I am amazed that a soldier would not have a living will.
    • DIAF, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3They shouldnt have to quit their jobs. They shouldnt have to be the ones flipping him. They shouldnt have to buy that equipment.
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@cbuddha42
      Okay, I am sick of comments like these: "don't sign up for combat duty if you aren't ready for the consequences". A lot of people who sign up sign up with the specific idea of protecting this country, others sign up for college money, others sign up because they have nowhere else to go in this survival of the richest economy we have set up.

      Nobody I knew when I was in the military, joined to fight an idiotic war in the interest of corporate america.

      I am so disgusted by this comment I cannot reply any longer, except to say; Take you ***** comment, write in on a pieces of paper, roll it into a little ball and shove it up your ass...
    • robotbling, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1trust me, for someone who needs 24 hour care, they wouldn't be able to afford it if they had anyone else do it. Even though they had to quit their jobs, they are probably losing less money than what they would charged if they had him in a special home or something.
  • charlief, on 10/11/2007, -13/+7As sad as it is.. I'm wondering if he will get a letter telling him that he needs to go back to Iraq. *sigh* It's so messed up right now..
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1the ONLY way that will happen is in error.
    • carpespasm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2i take it he would get the walmart greeter job of the military? what would the equivalent of that be?
      • Coven, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Recruiter?

        "Welcome to the Army. I love you"

        /Idiocracy
  • Albionshores, on 10/11/2007, -15/+97They shouldn't have had to leave their jobs to care for him. Everywhere else in the developed world he would have been provided carers, his medical needs attended to. Its their son. What were they supposed to do? The corrupt system is geared to make as much money as possible whilst providing the minimum level of care they can get away with.
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3He was in a hospital, they took him home. What are the circumstances behind that?
      • ChildeRoland420, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4They chose to take him home to provide care for him. Albion, Are you proposing that it would be better for him to spend his life in a hospital surrounded by strangers than at home with his own family and people who love him?
        • Albionshores, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5In other developed country the carers would have gone to his home. Medicine would be covered, medical equipment provided for and if then a parent or aprents had still wished it they would have received extra carer's welfare and support.

          Its like trying to explain electricity to cavemen.

          Its called humanity, please come in and make yourselves at home....we were wondering where you had gotten to.
          • ChildeRoland420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Did you read the article? It says that his medical equipment is from the VA and that they have a nurse there everyday. The "carers" did go to his home and cover medicine. You're just looking for a way to knock on a country and situation you know nothing about.
      • ChildeRoland420, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1They chose to take him home to provide care for him. Albion, Are you proposing that it would be better for him to spend his life in a hospital surrounded by strangers than at home with his own family and people who love him?
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1The VA is paying for nurses to take care of him around the clock. read the article.
      • Albionshores, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I've read the article....its cost them all their savings and they had to rely on charities. And no the nurses aren't round the clock....that's the point. From the article (emphasis mine)

        "The family has help from VA-provided nurses, BUT NOT around the clock"

        I was depressed about the state of medical care...now you've depressed me about the standards of education too. Thanks.
    • kjizzle, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1What careers are there for a pseudo vegetable? Counting fish at the hoover dam (which is in fact, a real job)?
    • myoungbl, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The article said 'but not around the clock.'
    • djAnakin, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1"Everywhere else in the developed world he would have been provided carers, his medical needs attended to."

      Wow... that's just one of the most incorrect statements i've ever heard.
  • qasabah, on 10/11/2007, -40/+23I could have missed something here but wasn't there someone who pulled the trigger of the gun that caused the injury? The blame for this surely lies ultimately with them.

    Fact: someone shot him in the back of the head. Don't bother with the "if Bush hadn't sent him there" rhetoric, just digg me down, but next time you're in a fender bender don't forget to blame Karl Benz.
    • Waiting2awake, on 10/11/2007, -5/+9 You speak truly - ultimately the blame for his injuries must be given to those that actually caused his injuries...

      HOWEVER

      The blame for him not receiving care does fall at the feet of the US system, because it is them that were supposed to care for him.

      The article doesn't seem to be so much blame bush for shooting the guy, it is blame Bush for not having the facilities(that every other modern nation has) to care for this person.
      • insomniac8400, on 10/11/2007, -9/+1I'm sorry but there is no sane way to justify providing this guy with care. Basically you can care for him or 10 other people, take your pick.
        • Fhwqhgads, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I hope they choose not to care for you some day.

          People like you could drop dead right now and make this world a better place..
      • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3idiot, they did provide care, it never says the parents paid for anything relating to healthcare. They did however quit their jobs.
        • Waiting2awake, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1 So as to look after their child - who was injured in the line of serving his country...

          WTF ever happened to supporting the troops?

          As the good book they like to sling around consistently - you will be known by your fruits, and allow me to be the first to say that the fruit is rotten!

          This isn't some homeless guy(which would be shameful enough) this is someone who was willing to die for your country - for the country to leave him in his hour of need..... disgraceful. A pox on their houses.
    • purdueAl, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Of the course the person who pulled the trigger is responsible, but that doesn't change the fact the Bush administration started the war (on lies) and sent this young man over there. Hence they bare responsibility, indirectly, for his current state.
    • qasabah, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5I agree completely. My comment was aimed at those who see any article as a way to blame George Bush for something. The purpose of this article (and surely its comments section) is to draw attention to unsatisfactory health care provision for Americans. And yet the very first comment said "At least he died (or almost died) for a good cause: Bush's oil."

      Pathetic.



    • Propagonzo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0If the fender bender happens after being airlifted to the middle of nowhere, for reasons beyond your control, and upon arriving you would find the biggest destruction derby in the world you might have an analogy there.
  • insomniac8400, on 10/11/2007, -9/+1Wasn't this a music video?
    • flyguyjm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Metallica - One
    • Typhoon2009, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Well, the full video to Metallica's "One" has clips from a film called Johnny Got His Gun, where a guy gets hit by an artillery shell or something and loses his limbs, his sight, all his senses. He's practically dead, but they keep him alive. The song is an anti-war song, detailing a guy who stepped on a landmine and he's good as dead.

      God damn I hate war.
  • reuscel, on 10/11/2007, -24/+70This is how Bush "supports the troops," ladies and gentleman. Now go buy another magnetic ribbon and ignore this story so you can be a good American.
    • redfan, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3And don't forget, we're all alone in giving the world freedom from "terrrr". Fight them over there so we don't have to here! Double the size of Gitmo! If you complain about the treatment of wounded soldiers, you must hate America! Support the troops! Go shopping! Buy more gas!
    • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@ redfan

      YES YES YES !!! VIVA BUSH!!! VICTORY IN IRAQ WILL BE OURS

      /sarcasm
    • Jagdwulfe, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Oh yes Clinton treated the troops very well. Wasn't it Clinton's people that ignored the fact that troops in Kosovo and Bosnia came down with Gulf War Syndrome.
      • goffy59, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1again with the retard talk. Its not about left and right, its just the whole system is *****, and your not helping with "tool" comments. ***** sheep.
        • Jagdwulfe, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That is the point I am making. Morons will jump on this because it is an Anti-Bush article. So I put in something about Clinton to keep it even. Both parties are ***** waste of space that don't give a ***** bout anyone but keeping themselves in power.
      • smackywentz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I think I'm just going to write shut the ***** up to every comment like this. So, shut the ***** up.
      • djAnakin, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3And, nevermind that had Clinton done his job instead of cheating on his wife [among other indiscressions] Bin Laden and his group wouldn't be so much to tackle.
        • Jagdwulfe, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Well remember Clinton did nothing wrong according to Liberals. Mind you if any of us lied about a blow job we'd be in Jail right now. As for the story I think it was Clinton's regime that brought TriCare into the miltary. I remember before the Military had free healthcare and now your family gets charged for it.
  • Limezor, on 10/11/2007, -27/+26One word: SiCKO.
  • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -37/+65To be fair, he chose to be a soldier. He should have been prepared for something like this.

    I feel worse for all the innocent civilians injured like this in the war.
    • crazydiode, on 10/11/2007, -4/+6to anyone who still says we want more war.. ***** YOU!!.. It's just not worth the destruction.
    • weirdwes, on 10/11/2007, -7/+9Do you really think anyone could prepare for being shot point blank in the back of the head.... solider or otherwise?
      • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2He must have know it was a possibility. He gambled with his life and lost. Its sad, but its his fault.
    • revjustin2, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3The choice was his and not his parents and I am not so sure that one really ever thinks that something like this will happen to him.

      If it were me going off to war, I would make it clear to my loved-ones that I would never want to be allowed to live like this. I would have asked that my family pull that plug while I will still in the hospital in Germany. Yet, that is my own choice. It is obvious that these parents don't feel that way. However, despite this choice, the military is still obligated to provide for this guy. He signed up to take a bullet for the government and they need to live up to their side of the bargain. Given that the military spends $450 on a hammer, I think that they can spend the cash to provide for full time nursing care for this dude and cut his family a break.
    • wycheck89yo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4sure sure he enlisted in the Army, but isn't one of the BIGGEST reasons people go into the military for the benefits? Free medical! woo hoo sign me up! Its one of the reasons I enlisted, I know that much...
      • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Of course it is. I'm sure lots of soldiers feel patriotic, but they probably do it mostly for the financial benefits.
    • joebob, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4While what happened is of course very sad, and the reality of things is this individual will likely never recover to a truly measurable degree. That being said I must agree that while this story deserves compassion I feel must worse for those civilians there who had no choice of where in the world they were born into and must face a living hell on a daily basis. Nobody can convince me to feel worse for a soldier who had a choice of whether to fight and die vs a 6 yr child caught in the middle of something completely not of their own doing.

      Also this reminds me to create a living will. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_will
    • georgetds, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2That bullet to a soldiers head is there because he put himself in the way of it so that the innocent children don't have to take it. Yeah, he had a choice - he choose to risk his life to protect the innocent. Than *anyone* should be shot is tragic, regardless of whom gets shot. It is heroic that there are those who choose to be shot at do it so that others don't have to be.
    • r337ard, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Digging the parent up for the second comment. On the first, I think most people signing up think death is the worst that can happen to them - this guy may just wish he hadn't survived if he doesn't already. Too bad he can't tell us how he feels.
    • Gilart80, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0"To be fair, he chose to be a soldier. He should have been prepared for something like this" Cool. We can do away with the whole Workmans Comp and Civil cases then. After all a construction worker should expect to get creamed by a tractor since he works around them, and the person working with melting steel should expect that he might lose limbs. And someone who walks on the sidewalk next to cars should expect that a car will hit them, so lets do away with having to pay for their medical care. Oh wait, your ***** idiot! Nevermind!
      • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1A soldier is payed to risk his life fighting a war. A construction worker is payed to build something. See the difference?
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@Roger
      If I ever see you after an accident on the side of the road with a bloody head and your car on fire, I will be sure to show no sympathy or concern as obviously you chose to drive your car and should be prepared for the eventuality of an auto accident. Since you are more likely to get in an auto accident than get killed in a war.
  • over9, on 10/11/2007, -20/+18+1 to sicko
    • lsatkins, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4This has nothing to do with healthcare. He is receiving free medical care from the military. His parents seem to have gone broke because they were not working. Just like any other country...if you don't work you go broke. Granted this could be seen as ammo to pull out of Iraq, but it has nothing to do with Nationalized Health Care.
    • wycheck89yo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3have you ever had to care for an adult who couldn't eat or wipe his/her own ass? You can't just prop him up on pillows in front of the Price Is Right and go to work. He should be in a nursing home at minimum, or have a nurse staying with him during the day while his folks work. You can't just leave someone like that alone.
  • SigmaOne, on 10/11/2007, -18/+1Darkness imprisoning me
    All that I see
    Absolute horror
    I cannot live
    I cannot die
    Trapped in myself
    Body my holding cell
  • dbhalla, on 10/11/2007, -8/+6thats why the uk has nhs
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2national honors society?
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2National Health Service, from what I've heard is a farce. Ambulance services , all that other crap. I'm not sure there is any good way to provide health care other than resrict he small fortunes a doctor can make.
    • rigg419, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1and in the UK, you get to wait 18 months to get any kind of medical care, unless of course you pay. Then, the time you have to wait changes from 18 months to "is thursday good for you?"

      Serious question. Which is worse. walking around with a colostomy bag for a year and a half until the surgeon gets to your place in line, or our system where illegal aliens are given free care but my dad has to move hospitals cause the first hospital he went to wasn't in his insurance group. I don't know which one is worse, I only know both systems are lame.
  • rhustang, on 10/11/2007, -13/+122to step away from the political side for a moment...

    what kind of life is he living? why are people doing everything they can to keep him alive in his current state? he can't see, can't speak, can't move, can't leave his room to enjoy life. i'm all about compassion, and i realize it would be a heart wrenching decision for the parents, but who exactly benefits from keeping him alive? jay, himself? i don't think so.

    everyone appreciates the sacrifice he has made, but as cold as it is to say, i think it would have been better if they didn't "save" him. i know i wouldn't want to be artificially kept alive in that state.
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -14/+6i thought you were stepping away from the political side...
      • cloudyprison, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3He is stepping to the ethical side of the issue. We all know current day politics don't understand what that side means anymore.
    • loneraven, on 10/11/2007, -2/+18I agree. While he still can respond to certain things, I'd almost guarantee that he wishes he'd be dead.

      I cannot imagine not being able to move, see, talk, eat, or breath by myself. I'd be a waste of space at that point and a burden to everyone taking care of me. The problem is, is that he's not defined as a vegetable, but in the state that he is, he might as well be. It's sad to say, but he's no good to society anymore, he's just continually suffering.
      • thumperings, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1"no good to society"? and you got 11 digs? are you people that ***** evil? What he can do for society has nothing to do with anything you dumb *****. He already gave 400 lifetimes more to society than your sorry ***** ass ever will ...you fat piece of *****. Secondly, maybe they can eventually find a way for him to type or something, and feel the breeze on his face. Who knows what he wants yet! The reason you want him dead *****, is because the fact he is OUT THERE everyday endouring makes your life a little less comfortable. PERIOD. ***** off and die.
        • akzidenzgrotesk, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3this is more in response to loveraven than thumperings (it won't let me respond in the right place), but i tend to feel that NOT being a vegetable would be worse in that situation. how awful would it be to be fully aware of everything, but completely unable to communicate your wants and needs to anyone? they can tell when he feels bad, but they don't know how to help him.. that would be the worst living hell i could imagine. at that point, if i had to live, i'd much rather be a complete vegetable who can't suffer the frustration of knowing that this is all that's left forever.

          as for you, thumperings, he's not saying "waste of space" in that he should die because he's useless. i think he's refering to the depression that comes from knowing that you will never get better, you will never even be able to thank your family for taking care of you. it's not that he's no good to society and therefore not worth keeping alive at all. just think how you would feel in that situation.
          • loneraven, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Wow, thumperings, you took that to a complete other level. I appreciate the sacrifice that the guy has made, but what good is he now to his immediate family? He's just a burden. Sure it sounds sick as ***** to say that, but it's true. I also support the idea of euthanasia of humans who are in great deal of pain. I feel there's no point in suffering through pain when you have absolutely no hope of recovering. Who knows, he might not feel any pain, but wow, I'd sure want to live a life where I'm mute, blind, and oblivious to sensation .

            Once again, I appreciate his sacrifice and the sacrifices of the many lives lost, but you're too into berating and flaming me. You know absolutely nothing about me and never will. You make assumptions about. I've served in the army and been to Iraq. The fact that you make such idiotic assumptions just makes you look stupid, which probably will explain why you've got -2 diggs already.
    • soxos, on 10/11/2007, -4/+7Can't say I agree that he should just die. It's easy to cheapen the value of life when you have no connection to the people involved. It's a lot tougher when it's your child/parent/self.
    • SocialPoison, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2According to the article he's at least someone conscious (he can occasionally say "mom" or other simple words). Instead of squabbling over his right to die, why not ask him? Establish some communication and let the poor guy decide.
      • computergod, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I've got a feeling that he is severely mentally handicapped too. Recognizing family members does not mean he is capable of making the choice to live or die. I could only guess at why the parents are keeping him alive, but I didn't RTFA.
    • AmusedToDeath, on 10/11/2007, -9/+4I cannot believe how heartless you guys can be sometimes. The guy is not a dog. You don't just put him down when he gets an injury.

      When you have children - get back to me and see if you feel the same way. If you already have children and feel this way, God help you...

      • rhustang, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6again, i'll ask who it benefits by keeping him alive? just because it would make YOU feel bad to pull the plug on your child, does not mean it's the incorrect decision for them.
    • gambyt13, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1True, this is the Republican way.

      Acquire, consume, waste, discard. All while preaching about morality and family.

      Why should a human life be any different.
    • Sep11insidejob, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2If I was in that position, I would ask for Dr. K.
    • cmkennedy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2You aren't cold or heartless at all by suggesting it. That's logic. But I imagine your opinion would change when it comes to your children. The reporting on this story makes helpless victims out of the parents, when they are doing all of this by choice and are immeasurably happier with their situation now than they would be if they'd just let him die. If anything, this story is inspirational. That this father and mother abandoned their lives to care for their child who needs constant supervision is mind-boggling, and has people like me and rhustang scratching our heads. It's a parent thing...we just wouldn't understand.
    • SleepingOrange, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0If life, all life, any life, is not worth the effort...

      Then what is?
    • themagnum, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I agree with everyone above, except for AmusedToDeath, ironic name btw. I have 3 kids and I know the last thing I would want is for them to completely drop everything they are doing and to take care of me for the rest of my life. It is definetly sad that this happened, no one is arguing that, but I know damn well that if I was in that situation with no positive outlook I would most certainly want to have the plug pulled and put out of my misery. The article even states at the beginning that he can "grimace and cry." If you would want to see your son in such terrible shape that the only activity he can do is cry and swallow his spit then may god help.
    • Syntaxis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Notice how the world's most favourite imaginary friend plays a role in most of the negative responses. Even the guy's parents seem to be religious, they thank their god for their son.

      @SleepingOrange
      Not all life is equal. A perfectly healthy baby girl vs. an 100-year old pedophile.. both equally valuable? What about a healthy 40-year old vs. a soldier that can't live without machines, can't speak, can't see, etc.?

      But it's a difference of opinion. In my opinion, nobody is to force life upon another person. In my country euthenasia is legal, if I'm not mistaken.. it's illegal in the USA. Meaning, no matter the pain, the uncomfort, the horrors, the wish to die.. you will be kept alive indefinitely. Personally I think that's wrong.
  • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -8/+7These are situations in which the future advancements of biotechnology will help. They can already give him back his eyes, partially. Soon they will be able to connect new prosthetics that can talk to the brain via a cable if the spine is damaged. It is all only a matter of cost.
    • Shandooga, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Pipe dream. Never happen. His eyes are not the problem, he has brain damage.
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1um, eyes are a problem, he is blind

      and they already can allow movement of a mouse cursor by only thinking, so this is not a pipe dream this is reality.
    • skarjune, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"It is all only a matter of cost." What? Do you think that life is just a sci-fi script? This person and his family has incredible suffering, and you suggest that in the future everything will be OK? Deal with the present. Try to understand how much pain and suffering this U.S. war creates. You can't wipe reality away with such trivial excuses and false hopes...
  • bovox, on 10/11/2007, -34/+28The title for this Digg is lame and VERY inaccurate. Nowhere in the article does it say the parents went broke for paying for medical care. They went broke because they quit their jobs to care for their son. They did not need to quit their jobs. I sympathize with their situation, but caring for their son is akin to caring for a newborn. Millions of families everyday care for newborn infants without quitting their jobs. Maybe one parent would work while the other stays home. Or maybe both parents work, but one would work Day Shift while the other works Night Shift. MILLIONS of families do this, including my own.

    Don't twist this family's tragedy into anti-war, anti-healthcare system propaganda. It just isn't true. And it just isn't right.
    • chupaCabra, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10Taking care of a newborn and taking care of a quadriplegic hooked up to all kinds of tubes and machines are to VERY DIFFERENT things. The differences are countless. Your statement sounds like you have never taken care of either for any extended amount to time.
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1finally there is some reason of sanity to this thread
    • johnhummel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I think the point is they shouldn't have to - his care should be paid for by the military and government who sent him off to fight. The idea that either parent should have to drop their lives, start working days/nights to care for their child who was hurt at the request of their government is bad enough.
      • ryanmetcalf, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1if you RTA, they didn't work more to take care of him, they both dropped their jobs. Though this is a deeply saddening story, as no one should have to care for their child in this manner or even bury them, it sounds like they are getting loads of help from the VA, twisting it to be anti-health care is wrong. It should, though, show how wrong this war is.
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1the government is paying for his care. READ THE ARTICLE NOT THE TITLE OF THE DIGG POSTER!
      • gopher043, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3apparently you can't read, but you have the fascination of telling everyone to read it.
        • bovox, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1could you cut and paste a quote from the article where it says the parents paid for his medical care?

          kthxbye!
    • gambyt13, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7All the Republican apologists and contrarian sphincters who are criticizing the parents for quitting their jobs, apparently you got by the spam filter that asks, "Are you human?" Did you RTFA: the father went back to WORK after a year and a half.

      Your child whom you spent 20 years raising and teaching is conscious, yet choking on their spit and in need of 24-hour constant supervision. Any neglect could lead to your child's death - bed sores, staph infections, pneumonia, you name it.

      INFANTS do not require this level of care. Babies are able to EXPRESS themselves and to advance their communication & motor skills. Babies are not blind, awake, quadriplegic adults trapped in broken bodies... Oh I am just wasting my breath, clearly.

      Fine... You and your spouse both work jobs that have kept you just able to cover the mortgage. You don't really HAVE any savings aside from the house, so it's not like that freaking matters.

      Now go concentrate on your work. TRUST the ***** ups who started this occupation to now provide top-notch round the clock care for your kid in UNDERFUNDED FACILITIES with a shortage of nurses. Why aren't you running off to earn your $12 an hour?

      Oh, wait, the VA isn't keeping him as he's not technically ill with anything, he's just physically *****. We'll send a nurse for half the day, you get him the rest. He's just a low-watt droller in a highbacked chair. Serves him right for honoring his country and duty.
    • acudoc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2bovox...your frankly irrelevant distinction in your post may come back to haunt you one day. What we don't understand, we are condemned to experience.
      • bovox, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Oh please. I understand the situation clearly. The VA is paying for ALL of his outpatient care, inpatient care, daily house call visits by nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists. They are doing everything possible to help this very sick kid, short of sending in Jesus to heal him completely. You people are seizing on this family tragedy to push your anti-war, anti-healthcare system agenda through very disingenuous means--one of which is the VERY INACCURATE outright LIE of a Digg Title.

        You people criticize the Bush Administration for misleading the American people to push his own agenda, yet you all use the same dishonest techniques to try to sway opinion your way as well. Why can't we all just have a return to honesty and let the truth speak for itself? And the truth of the matter is that this poor kid is receiving better healthcare at a better price (free) than I have ever received, nor has any member of my family or community ever received. Considering his sacrifice for this country I'm fine with that and I hope he continues to receive the best of everything.
  • shady1630, on 10/11/2007, -11/+1"To be fair, he chose to be a soldier. He should have been prepared for something like this.

    I feel worse for all the innocent civilians injured like this in the war."

    QFMFT
    • Shandooga, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1"To be fair, he chose to be a soldier. He should have been prepared for something like this.I feel worse for all the innocent civilians injured like this in the war."
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
      Both are bad but he *did* choose to go. There's no way of knowing what suffering his actions may wrought before he was shot, but I'm not inclined to believe that he was nursing orphaned infants. Still, one has to wonder why they would even bother keeping him "alive".
  • Bhatch514, on 10/11/2007, -17/+3ONE/ Metallica .... very fitting

    I cant remember anything
    Cant tell if this is true or dream
    Deep down inside I feel to scream
    This terrible silence stops me

    Now that the war is through with me
    Im waking up I can not see
    That there is not much left of me
    Nothing is real but pain now

    Hold my breath as I wish for death
    Oh please god,wake me

    Back in the womb its much too real
    In pumps life that I must feel
    But cant look forward to reveal
    Look to the time when Ill live

    Fed through the tube that sticks in me
    Just like a wartime novelty
    Tied to machines that make me be
    Cut this life off from me

    Hold my breath as I wish for death
    Oh please god,wake me
    Now the world is gone Im just one
    Oh god,help me hold my breath as I wish for death
    Oh please God help me

    Darkness imprisoning me
    All that I see
    Absolute horror
    I cannot live
    I cannot die
    Trapped in myself
    Body my holding cell

    Landmine has taken my sight
    Taken my speech
    Taken my hearing
    Taken my arms
    Taken my legs
    Taken my soul
    Left me with life in hell
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2no one cares about your songs!
    • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Hey "real", "feel" and "reveal" rhyme!

      Genius!
    • ColtRevolvers, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1Great let's post song lyrics from one of the worst bands ever.
      seriously get a life and start listening to real music.
  • CommissarVlad, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Its amazing how far our care for wounded soldiers has come and how far behind the government is on making more people available to help care for those soldiers.
  • odst117, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1It's like no one's ever read the Count of Monte Cristo. Teach him to communicate by blinking....It's the only function he CAN control

    Sad, sad story =(
    • phenolholic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1are you a moron? he's blind. when do you see blind people blink? the involuntary action to blink, to lubricate the eyes, is partially or completely lost when the eye doesnt function.
  • mccarron, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11And here I thought the government would provide medical care for soldiers hurt in the line of duty. Why didn't that happen here? Or is that just a poor assumption of mine?
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1Read the article! They did and are providing care for him. They have round the clock nurses from the VA taking care of him (from the article). The parents didn't pay for his medical bills. They quit their jobs to be at home with their son.
    • phenolholic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3they are offering him care. just not around the clock care. they transferred him from VA clinics to VA clinics, he has nurses, one even taught him to swallow his saliva. he's just not receiving around the clock care. his parents are providing that.
    • ShArKSe7eN, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I find it very disturbing that the Government is not footing the bill, nor providing all of the health care benefits needed to keep Joe alive or to assist in rehabilitating him. At the end of the day, he may not be able to see, may not be able to move, may not be able to speak, but he is still alive. Granted, he chose to join the service, but how many of us are willing to take up arms to defend the country no matter how popular or unpopular the conflict/war/fight? Which means kids like Joe get sent over there to do the job. At the very least, the Government owe it to him to take care of him until God himself sees fit to remove him from this mortal coil.

      Flame away, bury me, I don't care. Every one of the soldiers who get injured anywhere overseas in the line of duty should at the very least should have their medical care taken care of until they are either healed, or, if the wounds merit, for the rest of their life.
  • N256, on 10/11/2007, -10/+7Health care reguarding the military is top-of-the-line, the digg headline is just misrepresentative.
    • CommissarVlad, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Did you even read the story?
    • azAZ09, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Tell that to the guys who were sent to Walter Reed.
      • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1not a common thing, but good point
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1examples:
      http://militaryconnections.com/news_story.cfm?textnewsid=902
    • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3No, you are wrong. Military health care is not top-of-line. In fact, it is bottom-of the line, beyond subpar, and a national disgrace. **** you.
      • N256, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to say health care for the United States military is top of the line. My apologies.
    • MadDigger2007, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2You obviously have never stepped foot in any sort of military hospital or VA. I wouldn't let half of the doctors I've seen there touch my dog.
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11. The parent comment is wrong. It is not top of the line, they are continually under-funded.
      2. MadDigger - You obviously have had a bad experience, but in my military life I met some fine doctors who did great work with the resources they had.
  • emorphien, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4Lots of spin in that article and in the headline. They both quit their jobs? That's there decision and IMO probably a bad one.

    You have to ask, does he really want to be alive any longer? He's basically a braindamaged head with a useless body hanging off the bottom of it. Or is he too badly braindamaged to have an opinion about that matter?
    • gambyt13, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Clearly you did not RTA: The VA sent him home and now his parents have to do EVERYTHING:
      "We are the respiratory technician, we are the physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists ... his wound care nurse," Joseph Briseno said.
  • shark615, on 10/11/2007, -11/+6buried, inaccurate. Parents went broke because they quit their jobs and decided to make their basement into a hospital ward. No where in the article did it say they were covering his health care costs. It appears the military is doing that.
    • spukeesan, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Don't know why you're getting dugg down - you're absolutely right.

      Obviously this is a situation no one wants to be in, and it's incredibly sad for the family. But the article states that much of the medical equipment was donated, and that the military HAS provided in-house medical care (though understandably not 24/7). Tragic situation be damned, there are a lot of people working their asses off to keep this guy alive, and it's hard to determine - in good conscience - that this family deserves even MORE help when there are countless other wounded and sick soldiers in just as much need of care.

      Buried because it's foolish to rely on the government for everything, while at the same time complaining about the government's invasive presence. You can't have it both ways.
    • jaxcs, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1the military isn't providing 24 / 7 med care, the equipment was gotten through fund raisers. what exactly is inaccurate?
  • revjustin2, on 10/11/2007, -5/+13Next time we decide to go to war, let's all remember this story.

    War is not glamorous. War is about killing and death and ***** people up regardless of what side they are on.
  • Shakermaker, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
    • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Latin?

      The Repug FOX News, limbaugh-lovers are going to need an English translation.
      • N256, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I suppose Latin comes naturally to eveyone else.
      • herichon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Literally, "It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country."

        I certainly hope that was sarcasm, cause I'm having a hard time seeing anything sweet or glorious about this guy's predicament. See also: Stephen Crane, "War is Kind".
      • Albionshores, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3It is Latin and the translation is correct but it should be read in the spirit in which it was written.

        http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html
  • lickmygiggle, on 10/11/2007, -7/+46I'm sure this is going to get dugg way the hell down, but it's things like this that make me believe in human euthanasia. If someone wants to, and they are in pain, or are conscious while machines keep them alive, or otherwise wish to die. Their wishes should be granted.

    I'm not saying he necessarily wishes to die, but if someone has terminal cancer and is just facing 6 months of immeasurable pain...Let them go if they want to.

    Alright. Digg me down.
    • unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2when he is healed the pain should go away, except for some phantom pains. The military often provides high tech prosthetics so if he is lucky he may get his sight back and in a few years he may get arms and legs that work.
      • tekwrtr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Perhaps you don't understand the meaning of being shot in the back of the head and "His spinal cord was shattered, and cardiac arrests stole his vision and damaged his brain." Shattered spinal cord - we have come far for fixing the spinal cord but shattered? There is no repairing that. Cardiac arrests - that means a lack of blood flow to the brain and eyes. The brain can make near miraculous comebacks, but it is rare. Lack of blood to the eyes is permanent damage ... dead tissue. I appreciate your wishful thinking for our soldiers' future after injuries but SciFi ain't saving us. This man and his family live in the here and now. Lastly, your comment totally ignores the psychological trauma of the experience. Even if benevolent aliens were to land on our planet today and repair all of this man's injuries he will have a lot to deal with. There's a lot worse "pain" than phantom pains.
  • namelessuno, on 10/11/2007, -13/+3Why is this soldier wounded?

    Because the soldier refused to take responsibility for his own actions by invading and occupying Iraq.

    Said soldier made the mistake of associating with criminals and is quite worse off for it.

    Take your medicine soldiers.
    • AmusedToDeath, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"I only wish we were in the army so I could have you shot. Twice."
    • badogg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2That has to be the most retarded thing I have ever read.
    • kindrobot, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1No, he chose to SERVE his country. Not everyone is as worldly and educated as you are. He did what he thought was the right thing to do, and he did NOT deserve anything but our appreciation for his sacrifice in the form of help on whatever level was necessary. This is an unjust and frankly stupid war, but it's insincere to confuse this young man's sacrifice with that unjust war.

      This is one of the places where I part with the left. All young men are the victims of war, just or unjust.
  • jamdogg, on 10/11/2007, -9/+9This is tragic. However in war, people get shot. There are THOUSANDS of Iraqians not just soldiers but women and children too lying there in worse conditions. American and British soldiers put them there while they were in their own country. This is ONE soldier who went to war and got shot.

    Get some perspective people.
    • Shakermaker, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I understand what you're saying, but we shouldn't care LESS about this guy because other people died.
    • tango209, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Funny how it's never the insurgents fault. I'm sure it's just us going around trying to kill women and children all day long because it is so much fun.
  • phenolholic, on 10/11/2007, -8/+5noone forced these men to turn into soliders. they knew what they were getting into. look at you guys, you're men, but why havent you wanted to be soldiers and go fight this war? i feel no pity.
    • TheInfamousOne, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yeah, good comment, lets just not have any soldiers, except the ones who want to be shot. Feeling no pity shows that you are disconnected from your fellow humans, probably because you have never actually seen one outside of family members. I, pity you. One day you will grow up, and have kids of your own, maybe that will wake your dumb ass up.
    • Smoot, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0So you blame the firemen, police officers, road workers or any other person that does civil work for their choice of career, no matter how much you civilization DEPENDS on these choices? You are simply wrong and need to learn about civics, it's not just a form of patriotism.
    • waunko, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0these young men very often become soldiers out of a naive sense of duty and a belief that they are actually doing something good for their country and for the world, little do most of them realize, until it's too late and they get a chance to experience life, that our politicians use them as cannon fodder for big oil companies
      • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I think its more for the college money.
  • tucsonsun13, on 10/11/2007, -4/+14I really hate to say this. This is just an honest opinion that I think we all share: It may be time to pull the plug on Jay. I think it's what he truly wants. Hopefully he will regain his ability to communicate at some elementary level and provide his parents with some crucial guidance.
  • hifiDesign, on 10/11/2007, -2/+27@ emorphien & shark615: So did you two assholes just stop reading TFA right at the spot where it stated they quit their jobs? Taking care of their son is a 24-hour job that apparently requires more than just one person being caretaker. This kid performed the duty his country asked him to do, and now he's trapped in the prison of his own body. Think you could be just a little more insensitive? Why don't you go give up your life (because Jay now has nothing that resembles one) for an illegal war being waged by treasonous, greedy old white guys. You're dugg down as complete ***** idiots.
    • chukd, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Did you stop reading at the point where it said the Government is paying for around the clock nursing care for their son. DUGG DOWN FOR BEING A DUMB ASS!
      • hifiDesign, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3ORLY???

        "The family has help from VA-provided nurses, but **NOT** around the clock." Emphasis Added. RTFA. Piss up a rope.
    • shark615, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2You are a sensationalist idiot. Nothing I said was insensitive, it was true. You however have to emotionalize the ***** out of everything don't you?

      Their son is provided that 24 hour care he needs along with all the gear in a hospital. His parents made the choice to quit their jobs and move him into their home and incurred the costs associated with that. It was their decision to go broke NOT the governments. This article is 100% spin so that retards like you who can't read past the boo hoo sob story get all worked up. The fact of the matter is the kid got ***** up and was kept alive when frankly he should not have and now he is being used as a tool to push an anti-war agenda.

      Go cry some more and buy a little magnet.
      • hifiDesign, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3"You are a sensationalist idiot."

        So says the pot. Your blatant troll replete with machismo ***** smacks of attention-seeking behavior. Too bad this guy is breathing out of a tube and not you.
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@chukd
      Wow, Really? Did you just call someone a dumb ass after completely missing this in the article:
      "The family has help from VA-provided nurses, but not around the clock. Jay's mother and father often do overnight duty, making sure their son is turned every four hours so he does not develop bedsores, which can become infected and threaten his life. If they do not turn him and keep him on schedule, he does not sleep well and becomes agitated."
      Apparently the government is not paying for around the clock nurse care...

      @shark615 You apparently missed that part to, but I am not going to paste the same comment, so take this one instead. It's regarding a charity that provided some of the hardware (not provided by the government):
      "Various charities, especially Rebuilding Together, raised money to renovate their basement, supply a backup generator for the medical equipment, and install a lift so they can hoist "Jay," as they call him, into a chair and bathe him in a handicapped accessible bathroom."

      Maybe you guys did read the article, but I would give you a low score on the comprehension portion...
    • mmhnef, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Sorry man, but thats what you risk when you sign up to the military. You sign up to die for this country. If this country is run by greedy white men, its still what you agreed to do. No one stopped them from not joining.
  • Mojorisin69, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1I don't understand why both people had two stop working. Why didn't just one person take of their son and the other work. Also he should be getting disability from the military as well as from social security. Even if that's the case death is sometimes better than living when you are a prisoner in your own body. If he is on life support of any kind I would let him die so he can be free.
  • ljw5021, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1SaudiOrthMuslim, he died fighting terrorism, you ignorant prick. His parents are going through enough right now, do you really think spreading word that his cause was unjust is going to help? Bush couldn't give a ***** about the oil. What he DOES give a ***** about is the radicals controlling the oil fields. Would you want terrorist organizations in the world to suddenly become billionaires thanks to oil? Please do the research before you make assumptions like that.

    As far as the article, if I were Jay I wouldn't want to live and put my parents through the grief anymore. Death is a few months of grieving, this situation looks to be lifelong, waiting on a miracle cure.
    • gajillion, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Er... He didn't die fighting terrorism. First, he didn't die, and second, this was in Iraq not Afghanistan. He got shot MAKING terrorists.
      • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Don't you know all brown people are terrorists?
      • ljw5021, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0My fault, nearly died fighting terrorism. Your closeminded views of the world is what is wrong here, not the war.
        • Oldfart2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Where have you been for the last 6 years? Do you not READ? Can you not THINK? There were NO terrorists in Iraq until we provided them with American targets. That's pretty well established. Why do you repeat the same litany over and over? We are not right wingers. We can't be convinced by the constant repetition of lies.
  • ColtRevolvers, on 10/11/2007, -3/+13While it is true that nobody forced this man to become a soldier, we should still have compassion because he did something that most of the people on digg won't do. And thats get off the computer and fight for your country.
    • namelessuno, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3America is much worse off BECAUSE these federal soldiers are occupying Iraq so how is it that you see them as fighting for America?

      Have you not yet engaged the police state yet? You will and you can thank the troops for it.
    • gajillion, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@namelessuno
      There's a little thing that s