I have known Padraic for 23 years. Although we lost touch for a while, we found each other again. And I am so thankful for that. I want to share something that I wrote to him after I heard this segment and his words still rang in my ears.

In Basic the DS would always say "Don't say thank you - I'm doing my job. And don't expect to be thanked for doing yours." But I didn't care and I didn't take that to heart. I'm no longer in the Army. And as a civilian, it's normal to say "thank you" when someone has benefited you or given you a gift. I love our soldiers. For who they are and for what they do, individually and collectively. I live in a military town. When I pass a soldier and can get his or her attention, I say "thank you for serving." It's interesting how many seem to become embarrassed slightly. I realize most of America seems ungrateful, not comprehending how often you put your life on the line so that we can live ours. Media usually only cares for the big and horrible stories -- sensationalism. It's not right. It's not fair. But it is. Yet within this nation, people who understand, who empathize, do exist. We appreciate you. We thank you. We love you. I wish I could tell every soldier who is or ever was how sincerely grateful I am for his/her service—so much that sometimes it brings me to tears.

Thank you, Black 47 for taking an interest in our Soldiers. Thank you, Kurt, for this segment. Thank you, Padraic.

Oh! What a Lovely War
I enjoyed the 1969 film directed by Richard Attenborough. It's a musical satire about WWI. While I don't usually like musicals, I appreciated this one at this moment. Allusions and metaphors that I've heard in magazine and newspaper articles in the past 2 years are made visual and part of the plot and scenery in this film. I'm not sure it offers any clear consolation or even a direct point, but it gives a landscape you can relate to. It's not gory or aiming for realism and it could probably be called over the top, but it depicts alot the absurdity of any war.

I wanted CPT Lilly and all men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan that I think about them every day. And pray for them. I agree that the majority of Americans have forgotten, but I have not. I applaud them and will continue to pray for them and their families until they are all safely home.

Though it's likely been mentioned already, one song that particularly conveys the anger, frustration, and injustice of the Iraq War for me is "Let's Not S*it Ourselves" by Bright Eyes, from the album "Lifted". The lyrics detail the effects the war has, both directly and indirectly, on a number of different classes and types of people. While not entirely about the war in Iraq, "LNSO" always reminds me I'm not the only person who sees our actions over there this way. Conor Oberst's voice perfectly expresses the frustration and disgust these topics deserve and the music of "LNSO" builds and builds, pulling the listener along. This is a fantastic song and I often turn to it as a release whenever I hear a new story of poor judgment coming from the war and its architects... needless to say, it's in heavy rotation.

My local NPR affiliate is 90.3 WBHM, Birmingham, Alabama.

I am a proud retired soldier!! Padraic Lilly is my Nephew, we served together with the 2ID (Second Infantry Division) in Korea in 1998 (his first and my last tour). It is so sad that this WAR is be waged by those who shirked their duties during the Vietnam era, but now are so hawkish, rather "ChickenHawkish)...

As long as the only think folks have to do is say they "SUPPORT THE TROOPS AND THE WAR" with no real sacrifice, there will never be a true opposiition to the war. This war has now brough our economy down and put billions in the pockets of Haliburton and the Oil Companies...

We need to be out of there.

God Bless America and OUR TRUE HEROES, THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS!!!

Kurt, Great segment. Regarding art and bringing the war home, I wonder if you've had a chance to fully listen to Neil Young's album "Living With War"? I believe it is an amazing work of art. Has there ever been an entire album devoted to the act of protest? I can't recall any.

I know you've interviewed NY and Jonathan Demme in 2006. This is what he produced immediately following that event. Some things to consider:

>>> NY has said he used the "folk process" to produce the album. Boy, that's interesting and could be a whole show in itself, the folk process, what does it really mean in art, etc.

>>>NY recently was quoted as saying music can't have the impact that it once had. So far, there is no OHIO equivalent for the Iraq war or is there? Black 47? I'm checking it out.

>>> Living With War is an amazingly sustained and coherent ablum looking at the war from a variety of perspectives. Before LWW, NY did Greendale, a type of rock opera. He brings narrative to his album making in recent years like few others.

>>> NY wrote the first post 9-11 song, "Let's Roll," a song adopted by the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq in the early years...

Kurt, I urge you to do a segment about NY and the war because you're the only one that can get past surface of how the media treated these when they first came out. You can give it the depth and perspective it deserves.

Love your show.

Sean

Great interview.

Too many times people, on both sides of the political spectrum, seem to forget the terrible price our servicemen must pay when they go to war. Being there is bad enough, but the memories last and haunt them forever.

There's a song on MySpace (When Your Soldier Comes Back Home)that really hits close to home for combat vets like me (Vietnam), and their families/friends.

Check it out if you get a chance.

www.MySpace.com/MarthaAnnBrooks

Apparently it's been getting a lot of play on Neil Young's website since last year.

Again...great interview. Many kudos to "Black 47" for caring enough to write and perform their music despite the criticism.

I think the "work of art" that brought the war home for me is actually the lack of "works of art" - or even any consciousness - that connects our largely civilian population to the people serving in Iraq.
The question of a "work of art" is more a question of a "piece of work". That is, the abstract trick of convincing the American people that we can continually exhaust members of a slim, now somewhat middle-aged army made increasingly of reservists, without any tangible sacrifice on our part, except the looming debt this war is driving us into. I'd say Thucydides, but in that war, the entire Athenian population was engaged in battle.

But I'm very glad there are artists like Black 47 who are providing something FOR the soldiers. Maybe the real question we should ask ourselves isn't what work of art brought this home for us, but what "artful", or at least thoughtful way we could assist returning veterans?

I just heard this week's show and, in response to S360's query about music that has brought Iraq or Afghanistan home, I wanted to let you know about the symphony for narrator and concert band ("The Lion of Panjshir") I wrote in honor of Afghanistan's national hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud. It premiered with the cooperation of the Embassy of Afghanistan and their then-ambassador to the U.S., Haron Amin (who served as narrator at the premiere), in Baltimore at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in February 2004. You can read about it here: www.davidgaines.org/panjshir.html.

I am a painter interested in the convention of history painting. My own work brings the Iraq war home, particularely a painting called Polarity which is on my website at www.williamhrutherfoord.com. Other works on my website treat 9/11 and the politcs of death. Thanks for a fine program. Best, Bill Rutherfoord

I'm Padraic's dad. I'm pleased and blessed to be so! He and his six brothers and sister, (three have served in the military and two in Iraq and Afghanistan), are fine young people. Pat represents today's new American leaders. He has taken a deep interest in the music of Black 47 (I can see why)and they have taken a deep interest in the American soldier and the 42nd ID; I appreciate that and thank the group. Your concern for the troops and the people of Iraq is well founded and your putting it to music is helping bring attention to TRUTH!
PEACE and THANK YOU