War correspondent thanks God for human shields

Argo Nimbus

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Ron Martz article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


BAGHDAD, Iraq - The soldiers were there for a reason.

The logical, rational explanation is that they were there because their tank caught fire and had to be destroyed. So, without a ride, they jumped onto the armored personnel carrier with me.

I prefer to believe it was the hand of God that put them there, one behind me, one to my left. They were there to protect me.

Had they not been there, I most likely would not be now typing this.

Less than 30 minutes after the two soldiers joined me, both were wounded by bullets that could have hit me.
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And then the helicopters arrived and the medics whisked them off to a rear medical station. From there, it's off to Germany before they head for home.

When they had gone, I collapsed against the side of the armored vehicle. I was drenched in sweat. My mouth was dry. My gloves and left side were soaked in blood.

A few inches more, and it would have been me flying off on those helicopters, my blood staining the stretcher. Instead, I was unscathed, thanks to those two soldiers. I will forever be indebted to them.

Thanks also, I believe, to the hand of God.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution titled Martz's article, "I owe these heroes my life". The Omaha World-Herald reprinted it with the more accurate title, "War writer thanks his human shields". More to the point, Martz believes that God provided those human shields to protect him. I try to make some allowances for the fact that Martz was badly shaken by a brush with death and probably wasn't thinking very clearly because of it, but his thought process is still distrubing. There had to be a reason, according to Martz, why two soldiers were hit by bullets instead of him and the reason has something to do with Martz being more valuable in the eyes of deity, i.e. Martz was more worthy of protection. :rolleyes:

--- Argo
 
Well if the soldiers had been Brit's or Aussie's then he'd be correct, now wouldn't he?

:rolleyes:

I really don't see how you can owe your life to someone who got shot. Does he think that the bullets were aimed for him in particular? Maybe he's got some kind of God-complex.:confused:
 
Well, religion, "God Complex", it's all the same thing.

I wonder if he'd feel the same way if he was talking to a group of women and children who got shot right before his eyes.

"Thank God it was them and NOT ME! They weren't such good people as me, not being as devout a Christian and all, but God was watching out for his own today! I'd better send back a message on my secret stereo hand-communicator to God thanking him, and begging for more protection of this kind!"
 
evildave said:
Well, religion, "God Complex", it's all the same thing.

I wonder if he'd feel the same way if he was talking to a group of women and children who got shot right before his eyes.

"Thank God it was them and NOT ME! They weren't such good people as me, not being as devout a Christian and all, but God was watching out for his own today! I'd better send back a message on my secret stereo hand-communicator to God thanking him, and begging for more protection of this kind!"
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hehehe, that reminds me of being a kid and having my mother drag me to church. These people made little steeples out of their hands and were 'praying' and I always thought they had secret radios to talk to God with. O that made my dad laugh

:)
 
I know this is probably the very point of the thread so forgive me for being obtuse -- but isn't it more likely that the bullets were aimed at the soldiers and if he hadn't picked them up he wouldn't have been shot at at all?

Some people.
 
I also wonder how the family and friends of the soldiers will react to knowing their loved one was chosen as the sacrificial lamb. Will Martz personally thank the parents and explain this to them? You know “Hi MR & Mrs Smith sorry your kid got wounded but hey God knows how important I am to the network!”

Just made me think that perhaps God has some doubts on the righteousness of this current war. After all if God is now deciding that reporters are more important to save then soldiers…. a hint…?
 
Well, once you pick up and transport soldiers, you are a combatant, and a fair target.

He's whining about one of the same thing things they've been griping about the Iraqis doing. Abusing non-combatant status to aid the war effort.

It may not have been obvious to him when he picked them up, what with his God-colored glasses and all. No law applies but "God's" laws, all of that.

Once one truck with a red cross on it (or a blue media sticker, or whatever) transports uninjured soldiers to the front, they can ALL be fair game, no matter how many ambulances are blown up. They need to better instruct those soldiers about noncombatants AND those media wingnuts about the rules of war and their liability as well.

By picking up soldiers, he endangered not only himself, but every media representative in Iraq. Once a pattern of "helping out" is established, the sticker on their jeeps will be meaningless, and perhaps others will be rounded up as "suspected spies". After all, if some are aiding the Americans, others probably are as well.
 
Rusty,


Well if the soldiers had been Brit's or Aussie's then he'd be correct, now wouldn't he?
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Okay, that's enough! I demand an apology. I'm deeply offended by this statement. In fact, I see it as yet more evidence of a total lack of respect for Aussies on this board. I will be investigating my options for Libel and Slander. I truly believe I have a need to stand up and be counted as being against this kind of stereotyping.

Sure, today it's about Aussies being "more expendable" than Yanks...but where will it end. Before long, you'll be claiming all christians are pedophiles, just like the EvilDave dude. I demand a full retraction, and possilbe monetary recompense, for the emotion "pain and suffering" your insensitive comments have caused.

I'm waiting...
 
I'm sure he only meant the Aussies are routinely used as human shields, not that Aussies should be used as human shields.

All in all, you want fat Americans to be used as human shields. They cover more.
 
evildave said:
Well, once you pick up and transport soldiers, you are a combatant, and a fair target.

He's whining about one of the same thing things they've been griping about the Iraqis doing. Abusing non-combatant status to aid the war effort.

It may not have been obvious to him when he picked them up, what with his God-colored glasses and all. No law applies but "God's" laws, all of that.

Once one truck with a red cross on it (or a blue media sticker, or whatever) transports uninjured soldiers to the front, they can ALL be fair game, no matter how many ambulances are blown up. They need to better instruct those soldiers about noncombatants AND those media wingnuts about the rules of war and their liability as well.

By picking up soldiers, he endangered not only himself, but every media representative in Iraq. Once a pattern of "helping out" is established, the sticker on their jeeps will be meaningless, and perhaps others will be rounded up as "suspected spies". After all, if some are aiding the Americans, others probably are as well.
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I hate to spoil a good rant, but Martz was a passenger himself in an armoured personel carrier when the two soldiers were picked up. He was an embedded journalist with the column that drove through southern Baghdad on Saturday.

--- Argo
 
Well, fine. I'm glad you appreciate a good rant, anyway. :)
 
Then there was the other reporter who had an embolism in his lung and dropped dead.

I guess god hated him a lot.
 
evildave said:
I'm sure he only meant the Aussies are routinely used as human shields, not that Aussies should be used as human shields.

All in all, you want fat Americans to be used as human shields. They cover more.
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How true. Look at the american tanks even! The abrams is a pig!

But God must like the M1a2, seeing as we haven't lost too many.
 
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