Abu ghraib Quote by Arundhati Roy
“Each of the Iraqi children killed by the United States was our child. Each of the prisoners tortured in Abu Ghraib was our comrade. Each of their screams was ours. When they were humiliated, we were humiliated. The U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq - mostly volunteers in a poverty draft from small towns and poor urban neighborhoods - are victims just as much as the Iraqis of the same horrendous process, which asks them to die for a victory that will never be theirs.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on Iraq war, 2004
The suffering of Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers is shared; war blurs moral boundaries and creates collective pain.
In simple terms: War causes shared suffering for all involved.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared humanity in conflict.
Themes
war
human rights
solidarity
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
political
humanitarian
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy debate
- humanitarian aid
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
moral responsibility
collective trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies acknowledge shared suffering without endorsing war?
- What actions can reduce civilian harm in conflict?
A Different Perspective
War also involves complex geopolitical interests that can limit empathy.
