Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 28, 2009
July 27, 2009
July 29, 2009
Transcript:
Melissa: My attacker took a lot from me, ma'am, but it's in the past. He can't steal my future unless I let him! I was a good soldier, and there's no reason I can't be again. All I have to do is reconnect with that pride of belonging! Woman: Wow, Melissa. That's a pretty impressive piece of personal insight. Melissa: Thanks, ma'am. Woman: Have you been seeing some other therapist? Melissa: I knew you'd be suspicious.
margueritem over 15 years ago
Amen, GEE1A.
Kate777 over 15 years ago
So brave, so smart, so young
Allison Nunn Premium Member over 15 years ago
Notice the smiles in the last panel? Melissa is proud of herself, and her therapist agrees! Go melissa!!
Durak Premium Member over 15 years ago
It’s always amazed me how a civilian like Trudeau can hit dead on, not just life in the military but life in the military from a womans perspective. He reminds me of Stephen Crane. Batiuk, from Funky Winkerbean, is the same way. Great story arc going on over there, BTW. I like it when authors do their homework. Good job. And good luck Melissa! Stay strong, nolite te bastardes carborundorum! (Heh, try to bleep my outhouse latin!)
RinaFarina over 15 years ago
The version I learned in school (not from a teacher, of course, but from a fellow student) was:
“Illegitimis non carborundum”
(Don’t let the bastards grind you down) which I guess is the same as yours.
Hey! my fellow student was going to go into the armed forces! must have had a psychological link to Doonesbury!
pbarnrob over 15 years ago
But if she finds him before he sees her…
Durak Premium Member over 15 years ago
Rina Farina - while your version is more popular, mine is actually grammatically correct.
Seed_drill over 15 years ago
I’m afraid GT may be setting Melissa up for another fall. It seems I’ve heard that the Army is pretty harsh on allowing those who have any significant history of mental health treatment into their ranks.
Given the stress that soldiers are under during war time, there is probably valid reasoning behind that, but when the military experience is THE REASON the counseling was necessary in the first place, that’s a bit of a sticky wicket.
countoftowergrove over 15 years ago
I think Melissa got word her 1SG retired.
grendl over 15 years ago
It looks like Melissa finally found another therapist–one who practices EMDR. Hence the rapid turnaround. You GO!
Durak Premium Member over 15 years ago
Eric - Melissa goes to the same VA counselor the BD goes to for therapy due to his amputation. When Melissa was in Iraq her First Sergeant (1SG) pressured her into having sex with him. She has been having trouble, up until now, dealing with it. I agree with seed_drill, above, she’s going to have a tough time getting back into the Army. Another example of how victims of this sort of crime continue to suffer long after the event occured.