I guess I should blame everyone else, including my “employeer” for a loss of a marriage or anything else.

Claypigeon on March 21, 2008 at 3:24 AM

Dude

That’s brutal. Chin up, stiff upper lip.

If the military wanted you to have a wife or husband they would have issued you one. Because you can only win battles on one front at a time.

Here’s my story, Pam.

I was ripped away from my family and thrust into an unnecessary conflict, started by an amoral president, and forced to participate in a hopeless quagmire. With our unit under strength and the operational tempo increased, our morale hit bedrock. By the end of my unit’s tour, fifty percent of us were in some stage of divorce. When I returned home I was shocked to learn I was under investigation for an alleged affair with my superior officer, my savings had been looted and that my husband had a mistress. While enduring relentless harassment by an overzealous investigator, an equally aggressive young military police officer uncovered an extortion plot involving my husband and his mistress. In a dramatic moment, the young military police officer’s car came screeching up to me and he demanded that I get in the vehicle and that he had evidence of an extortion plot against me. The plot details involved full custody of my daughter, the pilfering of my bank accounts and the government sanctioned garnishment of my monthly income. In exchange, they were going to destroy an alleged handwritten note from me confessing an affair with my superior officer. When confronted with evidence of the felony extortion plot, my husband broke down in tears and begged forgiveness. When asked by the military police if I would like to press charges against him, I quickly dreaded having to explain to my little girl why daddy had to go away because of what he did to mommy. So, I foolishly said no. After this, the investigation of my alleged affair was dismissed.

The aftermath of these events was that my husband left with my daughter because I was going to be redeployed down-range. Now, my daughter will not speak to me and it has taken me years to recover financially. Also, my ex-husband has had a string of transitory live-in relationships and I am sure it has affected my little girl in the most negative ways. I can’t help thinking that my family and future are going to merely be an overlooked casualty of a senseless and purely voluntary conflict concocted by a dishonest president. Perhaps one day I will have the strength to forgive those who have wounded me but right now the pain is too deep. I just wanted to serve my country and instead I became a accepted casualty.

-Erica

BTW, I forgot to mention to Pam that the genders in this [very true] story were reversed and that the year was 1995-6 in Bosnia. (I think Clinton was president at that time, right?)

Who are the advertisers with this paper? Used book stores, aroma therapist, and coffee shops?

THE CHOSEN ONE on March 20, 2008 at 11:36 PM

Bass Pro, Gander Mountain and Cabellas. Given that the Minneapolis Star & Sickle is only useful for fishwrap, they’re just trying to appeal to the right demographic.

Are you worried because it increasingly feels like you are engaging in the same despicable behavior that you make a living accusing everyone else of?

We have an honorable* solution you may want to look into, one that more and more journalists should try for relief.

Kevorkian & Assoc.

* an archaic term roughly meaning “un-progressive”

Granted all of my service was stateside, but it was the best decision I ever made. Being over a thousand miles from both families, we were forced to depend on each other. It brought us closer together.

Maybe we could suggest a different story idea…

Are you a journalist in the main stream media whose marriage has ended becuase of your so-called profession?

We’d like to talk to you for a possible story. The chances of The Strib actually having a decent story aside. Stop snickering. Really.

Please call reporter gossipmonger Pam Louwagie at 612-673-7102 or e-mail plouwagie@startribune.com.

Please leave your name, wether you were a print or television journalist, the outlet you work for, and a telephone number where you can be reached.

Louwagie

My favorite Mario Bro. character.

Oh, hey, wait. I just had a thought. Somebody ask if they’ll pay for a good story.

…when they could have been trolling certain Chicago churches.

Maybe I need to do some investigative reporting about how many relationships are ruined by finances? bad journalism?

Geministorm on March 20, 2008 at 10:32 PM

Are you a professional journalist driven to abject despair by your industry’s complete colapse of any and all ethical standards and integrity?
Please email w/ your stories of alcohol/drug abuse, marital breakup, and/or suicide attempts.

Great vent. I could almost picture the veins popping out in your neck.

They are gathering the ammo for the fall. Between August and November we will get all the evil guv-ment stories we can handle.

“We’d like to talk to you for a possible story.”

You.Are.Pathetic.