Eloquent Story of Stubborn Humanity

Tweet This story has a happy ending, but the earlier part where the US soldier goes through all kinds of contortions because the girl he wants to help may not have US citizenship gives one an idea of the reality of life in an occupation. Portion below; whole story here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003808094_iraqrescue27.html

"'Thank you, sir," he [girl's father] managed to say, and when he was unable to say anything else, he bowed his head, and then sat, and then wiped his eyes, and then followed the doctor into the treatment area, where his Iraqi daughter was surrounded by American doctors and medics.

"The injuries to the girl were serious. There was a deep cut across her cheek, and, worse, something that had gone into the left side of her forehead and was embedded in her skull.
Her father held her hand until the doctors swaddled her in a sheet, making sure to wrap her arms tightly. Her mother closed her eyes. The doctors leaned in.

"It took a while, and at the worst of it the little girl couldn't remain quiet, but then the doctors were showing her what they had found — a solid piece of glass that was nearly 2 inches long — and soon after that she was smiling.

"The glass was part of an apartment that no longer existed, in a part of Baghdad where the sounds Thursday night were of mourning.

"But in this part of Baghdad, the sounds were of a mother who no longer had a home kissing her Iraqi daughter's cheek, and a father who no longer had a home kissing his Iraqi daughter's hand, and a little girl who no longer had a home saying something in Arabic that caused her parents to smile, and Cummings saying quietly in English, "Man, I haven't felt this good since I got to this hellhole."