Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for April 15, 2010

Wow. And we thought John Rambo was a psychopath. LOL.

Go get him Roz.

Roz is the best!

She’s screwed up because someone in authority abused her! I bet you blame the choir boys for enticing the priests.

“Why don’t you folks stay on topic with her situation?”

I like pie.

Ok, now that I got being an educated snake out of my system (you know, a smart asp), Joe-Allen, you have a commendable recollection of the history of this story arc, better than probably most of us here. You might find your ideas better-received if you lighten-up a little bit and take a more gentle approach.

And to get back on-topic, there are still valid arguments both ways about whether it is better to sit it out and get counseling or get right back on the horse (I know, bad analogy for this situation, but give me something better and I’ll use it!).

Cheers!

Do you REMEMBER being in the military, Joe?

How many soldiers do you read in the papers re-upping for duty in Iraq or Afghanistan - not what you’d call a feather merchant’s billet in any war - because their units are still over there and they can’t stand leaving their buddies in the lurch? How many do it because they can’t stand the thought of people thinking they’re cowards … or that they’re afraid themselves they might be?

Heck, there’s so much pressure to get back in the game and fill the ranks that there’s a minor scandal of recruiters killing themselves nationwide because they’re “falling under quota.”

A lot of troopers like Melissa go back sooner than they should’ve, and that’s been going on since some centurion in Caesar’s army booted a legionnaire in the backside and told him to quit malingering and get back to his cohort.

What kind of pie?

I’m delighted to see that Roz put a smile on Mel’s face. In her way she is telling Mel that she has her back; and that is a hedoublehockeysticks of a relief to a soldier! She re-upped to prover to herself that she was better. Can understand that. Have a lot of family in the military. One niece has been to Afghanistan (13 months), Qatar (9 months) and Kuwait (another 9 months) over the course of 4 years. Little time at home with her two young children. Sniper trained and very good at what she does; but sheesh!

thank Goodness: “girl talk” - Melissa trusting Roz enough to tell her shameful secret.

Joe-Allen - where did you read the article about suicides?

“Why don’t you folks stay on topic with her situation?”

Comical, coming from you. You stray form “topic” constantly.

It’s relatively simple: Mel thought she was “cured,” and overestimated her readiness to get back on the line.

One side-effect to this talk is Roz might not feel quite so flattered with the sexual banter in the mess hall.

Alabama’s comment reminds me that the more condemning you are of some trauma, the more you shut down any hope of honest relationships with the people closest to you. If a man in my life sounded like Al, I would KNOW I could never discuss my deepest fears or most painful history with him.

As someone close to a similar victim, I will say that Roz’s idea is the best one. The authorities all hover around Al’s idea or worse. There’s some understanding now, but that SVU stuff is still TV ideal. Some even think the rape stink is a way to get women on the police force for sympathy work. I don’t take the law into my own hands, but if I were Mel’s father and I knew the name, Roz wouldn’t have to use up her leave time. Because somewhere, the guy who did it is zeroing in on another victim. That “vengeance is mine” thing of God.s gets to be a heavy command to obey some days.

Hmm, perhaps Redfern can get the contract? Or Duke?

Jobs are hard to find in civvie life. Lots of guys re-up to live. Remember that under a certain president in the 80’s, vets were not allowed to draw unemployment because they could “always re-enlist”. Helped to keep the all volunteer army up to strength and unemployment figures lower too. There is not a great demand for helicopter mechanics out here.

How many think Mel’s secret is safe with Roz?

Got your back. You go girlz.

freeholder1 - you took the words right outta my mouth -er- post. I have two daughters, both of whom are of military-eligible age. If I were Mel’s dad or brother, I’d be buying the slimebag a one-way ticket on the H**l Express.

Is a team leader an NCO?

“Hmm, perhaps Redfern can get the contract? Or Duke?”

(my sentiments exactly, ahem-ahem)

Aw what a nice friend Roz is. Mel needs more therapy for sure but it will take a long time to heal. Also all she knows is the army. It’s her career. What else is she qualified for? I would like it if she could divulge to the commander but that would make her look weak. Definite no-no in the army.

Some days around here it’s like herding cats other days it’s a prison break. Today it looks as if the more sane types are regaining control of the forum from the Davorkian rabble and “mean girl” politics.

They say there’s about a two week lag time between Trudeau getting it published, and reality. Click the link below to see what’s like for a young punk to beat the old slinger to the draw.

http://bit.ly/aUfK8b

Is a team leader an NCO?

It would depend on the unit, however I would think a maitnance team leader would either be an NCO or a Warrant Officer.

“Friends help you move mountains…REAL friends help you move BODIES!”

(quoted from Kabu, on her DBZ Fan site)

The original creep needs to be disciplined & drummed out of the military without unemployment or pension. He needs to do time in Leavenworth or some placde worse & she needs to nail him, one way or another to keep him from continuing to play his little game with other enlisted female personnel. This is a comic strip and then again…it isn’t.

folks!

Help me here. Does stebon rate a reply or should we just ignore?

I cannot quite believe those comments.

again anyone reading http://tinyurl.com/y6522n8 can see the foolishness (hatefulness?, ignorance?) of this post.

I sure hope that none of my posts have been that ?????. I have had my rants.

(delurking)

I flagged the comment. It’s pretty obvious that nothing we could say would change stebon’s mind, and any reply would just dignify what was said.

My two cents’.

I think what we’re seein’ here is the heard mentality. One member becomes startled and the rest stampede, which is fine when the lion’s awake, but when it’s just the wind, it looks hysterical.

I hope Mel’s unit isn’t as disrupted as this forum.

@FriscoLou

WE envy your ability to be above it all. We await your comments with baited breath. We yearn for your pronouncements with deep longing. We would not know what to do without your caring concern.

Please Please we could not stand it if you left us.

And by the way in case you haven’t HEARD, a group of cattle, elk, reindeer etc. is a HERD!!

I’m sorry, I just don’t have the gentle touch. I hope to learn someday, but REALLY!

Oh! Dear! I just checked a suspicion of mine. (after 2 hours) MY BAD! It’s BATED breath!

What better a friend is there than one willing to frag your ex-CO for you?

I heard similar stats Joe-Allen – some phenomenal number in the past month I believe. Good that Mel has found a comrade in which she can confide – she needs it as a woman, and especially as a female soldier. And the idea that all “libbers” hate the military is simply ignorant while the idea that all women are looking to get raped is beyond dumb, stupid and ignorant. The military could work on cleaning up its act and men (military or not) could learn to treat women with respect. This is not meant for those who have already learned that – only the ignorant imbeciles who make statements like those of “stebon” above.

The deadhead stebon comments are to be expected and i honor his honesty if not his sense. It’s nice to see a bigot admit it even under the veil of a chat forum. “No such thing as Date rape” “Can’t rape the willing.” “she was asking for it by her dress.” Yeah, Neanderthals still roam the plains. It’s best to cut them out of the herd (or heard as another moral failure suggested) and send them to the place they can find others of their kind.

If two people are in a power relationship (for example, one is the superior of the other, in the military or in a job in civilian life), and the more powerful one asks for sex from the other one, then that cannot be called consensual sex. The less powerful person is not free to give an honest answer, whether it be yes or no.

I first learned this when discussing incest with a friend of mine, and he said he would never consider sleeping with one of his daughters. I asked why, and that is the answer he gave me, that she would not be able to freely choose to sleep with him. I have never forgotten what he said.

So you cannot “blame the choirboys for enticing the priests”. Or the little 4-year-old girls for seducing the men. There are actually men who believe that it’s the little girl’s fault! As the adult, the man has the responsibility to control the situation! What does a 4-year-old know? If an adult wants them to do something, well, they want to please, so they go along with it!

Yes, it is something I know about personally. I was discussing a little girl with (another) friend, and he told me how, at a party, this little girl had reached out to touch his crotch, and at the same time gave him a big smile. And I immediately said “Somebody taught her to do that!” And to my shock and horror, I couldn’t convince him! I guess I shouldn’t have considered that it would be obvious.

That’s one of the things I like about Doonesbury - the characters are three-dimensional. Did anyone consider that this could happen? that if Mel told Roz what the problem was, Roz would take it seriously, and be fiercely loyal? It puts her in a whole different light.

go girlz !!!

“No woman, especially overweight, unattractive ones would ever have sex voluntarily.”

Excuse me? where does that come from? no comprendo

Well, after thinking it over, and reading other people’s comments, I flagged stebon. very tidy, nice & neat.

Where’s the mob going to get their guns? Starbucks parking lot?

Alex seems honked that someone would post a comment to her forum … THE NERVE!

There is so much debate on whether or not Mel should have went back in to the army and I wonder how many have been in a situation like Mel. Mel the fictionaal character did what was best for her (or what Tredeau thought would give the storyline more depth). I like Roz’s reaction and no judgement just straight support. I wonder what happend to that for a great character and thought provoking storyline. That is my say which is to say opinion.

Not to the hard stuff: Not a pie person myself but if u al a mode an apple pie I wont turn it down!!!

Little by little speech dies one post at a time. It’s Alamo time for freedom. Pol Pot’s trying to trigger a forum takeover, say bye bye to yo monitors.

This is exactly the way the Ayatollahs are, with the reform movement.

It never fails to amuse me when the bohunks come out screaming for freedom of speech on a PRIVATE website.

Hey there, Frisco, guess what? This is Uclick’s website. They can run the forums and the comment sections however they want. You don’t like it, go find somewhere else to spew.