Take Action for Tomas Young by Ellen Spiro

[proud2BlibKansan]

Take Action for Tomas Young

On April 4, 2004 Tomas Young was shot and paralyzed in Iraq in an unarmored Humvee. He came home to become an outspoken anti-war activist, transforming his anger at the Bush administration into action. Tomas' fight to bring the troops home is deeply personal. His brother Nathan is currently in Iraq, having been stop-lossed (he served the required time of his contract and was then re-deployed). For Tomas, who cannot walk and who struggles daily with basic bodily functions, protesting the war has given his life purpose. Our film, Body of War, has been described as a searingly honest portrait of his journey, both personal and political. Tomas has roused people from their complacency and spurred many to follow in his activist footsteps.

Tomas is a bright light in a dark time.

On May 23 last month Tomas Young suffered a pulmonary embolism in the middle of the night and was found in his home the next day-- in a coma. He has been struggling to get better ever since, and is still able to infuse humor into the scariest and darkest moments.

When Tomas emerged from the coma, he asked to see a doctor. He took a long pause and muttered "Dr. Cornell West or Dr. Dre, please." Then he slipped off to sleep again.

Tomas served as Executive Producer the film's companion album, Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran, featuring 23 songs chosen by Tomas, including songs by Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Tom Morello, Michael Franti, Bright Eyes, Lupe Fiasco, Tori Amos, Public Enemy and Serj Tankian. Tomas designated the Iraq Veterans Against the War to receive the profits from this album.

Tomas and his family have been on a medical rollercoaster ride, in an out of the I.C.U., with rapid improvements followed by sudden set-backs. Tomas began to improve and was talking and cracking more jokes when he was struck with an infection that left him back in an unresponsive state in intensive care. When he emerged yet again, he struggled to identify the people in the room. His mom started playing his i-pod and Tomas began to sing. Tomas could barely speak, and his short-term memory was out-of-whack, but he could sing! Hooked up to oxygen, heart monitors and an IV, Tomas sang all the lyrics to Franti's "Light up Ya Lighter" and Vedder's "No More". He also conjured up some Rod Stewart singing "if you like my body and you think I'm sexy, come on baby let me know

While Tomas was in intensive care getting his musical memory back and making nurses laugh their heads off, dozens of Kansas City activists held an anti-war protest in his honor. One protester held a sign that read "We Cherish Tomas Young, a true patriot. Our thoughts are with you. George W. Bush, a mass murderer, we are thinking about you, too!"

more . . . http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-spiro/body-of-war----take-actio_b_106317.html

To send a card to Tomas:

Tomas Young
St Luke's Hospital
4401 Wornall
Kansas City, MO 64111

[lastliberalintexas]

1. What a courageous kid

I can't imagine what his family is going through, and I hope both he and his brother are home safe and sound soon.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Nathan is still in Iraq

Tomas is doing better but it is a slow recovery. He will be hospitalized for a long time. :cry:

[Hissyspit]

3. I sent him a card today.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Thank YOU!!!

He has a lot of cards from Code Pinkers and Vets for Peace. They are such wonderful groups.

Hey did you see my thread tonight?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3474383&mesg_id=3474383