I've been trying to imagine what it might be like in Fallujah. To do so I had to change things around and imagine that the battles were raging here instead. So, I took some recent news stories I've read and made it more local to see how I'd feel.
..............
You may recall the reign of terror we Vermonters were living under, and how we had a great deal of respect for the troops from abroad that came to free us from the evil dicator last year. That was then.
Last week the Occupiers decided to shut down the Reformer for no real reason. They said there was an anti-Occupation article in it. Some local residents took to the streets angrily and threw rocks and fired weapons at them.
They caught a four of those contractors we all know are doing a lot of the dirty work for the Occupiers and burned them at the Retreat after dragging them up Main Street. Kids from all around were celebrating, hitting the charred bodies with their Nike's.
The Occupiers decided to retaliate. They fired a missle into a church downtown, saying some of the "rebels" were holed up there. They've moved in heavy troops, blocked off 91, 30, 5, and 9, and have begun to patrol the streets. We tried to get out to get away, but the guards at the checkpoints turned us back. We're stuck here.
They are nervous and fire at anything that moves. In just a couple of days, they injured over 1,000 town residents, and killed about 600 of us. Many dead and injured are kids, mothers, and elderly with a few able-bodied men as well. Helicopters fly overhead and explosions are all around us. The hospital is packed.
Many people are hiding in their homes, waiting for it to blow over. Many others are angry, and taking up arms to defend our town. People from Putney, Wilmington, Bennington, and even Burlington have been bringing food and supplies, and many are trying to help but can't get to us.
Yesterday the Occupiers called a cease fire. Our next door 60 year old neighbor went out to try to get some milk at the corner store, but she was shot dead in the streets by soldiers. Some cease fire, eh? Neighborhood kids grabbed guns and took off over the hill. We haven't seen them return.
Last night a tank was at the end of our street. There were some gunshots, and then the tank fired a missle through our apartment, blowing up our water pipes, and taking the legs off of two kids next door. We called an ambulance but the Occupiers stopped it at the end of the street and wouldn't let it get to us.
Now the Occupiers say they are going to kill or capture our local leader to bring and end to the chaos.
They say they are on our side and trying to give us democracy.
What should we do? Hmmm....