Baghdad Quote by Matt Shea
“No one that has ever been in combat ever wants to see war anywhere in the world. It is horrible. It's horrible looking at the pock-marked walls. It's horrible looking at the flesh embedded on walls in Bosnia. It was horrible looking and interviewing and talking to the kids who lost their parents, because Saddam Hussein decided to feed their parents to the lions in downtown Baghdad. To characterize particularly myself, but other groups, as wanting to advocate a war I think is not only disingenuous, I think it's a patent falsehood intentionally created to stigmatize a group of people.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on war trauma, 2011
Combat experience creates deep aversion to war, exposing its brutal reality and human cost.
In simple terms: Veterans hate war after seeing its horrors.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and honor veterans' anti‑war perspectives.
Themes
war
trauma
humanity
truth
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
testimonial
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- veteran counseling
- peace activism
- policy debates
- education curricula
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
politics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal trauma shape public policy views?
- What responsibilities do societies have to those who witnessed war?
A Different Perspective
Veterans may be pressured to support war for political agendas.
![“The correct answer is the University Titans, the West Valley Eagles, the Central Valley Bears, the East Valley Knights, the Riverside Rams. The fact you don't even know an answer to the question like [naming all the Spokane Valley High School Mascots] means you don't even know the district. How…” quote by Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/958/matt-shea-14938_answers_the-correct-answer-is-the-university-tit_288990.jpg)
