--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shit,\" he said. \"I don't know why you're…" description: "\"“Shit,\" he said. \"I don't know why you're feeling sorry for yourself because you ain't had to fight a war. You're lucky. Shit, all you had was that dam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/sherman-alexie-444_desert-storm_shit-he-said-i-don-t-know-why-you-re-fee_779969.jpg" --- # Shit," he said. "I don't know why you're feeling sorry for… ![“Shit," he said. "I don't know why you're feeling sorry for yourself because you ain't had to fight a war. You're lucky. Shit, all you had was that damn Desert Storm. Should have called it Dessert Storm because it just made the fat cats get fatter. It was all sugar and whipped cream with a cherry…” quote by Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/sherman-alexie-444_desert-storm_shit-he-said-i-don-t-know-why-you-re-fee_779969.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/sherman-alexie-444_desert-storm_shit-he-said-i-don-t-know-why-you-re-fee_779969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/sherman-alexie-444_desert-storm_shit-he-said-i-don-t-know-why-you-re-fee_779969.jpg) > ““Shit," he said. "I don't know why you're feeling sorry for yourself because you ain't had to fight a war. You're lucky. Shit, all you had was that damn Desert Storm. Should have called it Dessert Storm because it just made the fat cats get fatter. It was all sugar and whipped cream with a cherry on top. And besides that, you didn't even have to fight in it. All you lost during that was was sleep because you stayed up all night watching CNN.”” [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker mocks someone’s self‑pity by contrasting their relatively mild experience with the harsh realities of war, emphasizing how privileged they are. **In simple terms:** People often feel sorry for themselves despite having easy lives. Key Takeaway Recognize your privilege and avoid needless self‑pity. Themes privilege war self‑pity social critique Mood ironic critical reflective Type satirical commentary When to use this quote - personal reflection - social conversation - media consumption Key Concepts military conflict media influence class disparity Questions to Reflect On - Do you compare your hardships to others? - How does acknowledging privilege change your perspective? A Different Perspective The comparison may oversimplify complex personal struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desert storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert-storm/) [Feeling sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry/) [Feeling sorry for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to serve. It was Desert Storm. I thought, 'I was a rich kid, and America's been good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-wanted-to-serve-it-was-desert-storm-i-thought-i-was-a-rich-kid-and/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I was fortunate to have served in leadership positions throughout my entire service in the Army. I was in my first unit for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/i-was-fortunate-to-have-served-in-leadership-positions-throughout-my/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) > [While the Assads are despotic, George H.W. Bush made the father an ally in Desert Storm, and Ehud Barak offered to return to Hafez…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/while-the-assads-are-despotic-george-h-w-bush-made-the-father-an-ally/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I had top-secret clearance and everything. I was working on a couple of projects that would keep me involved in Desert Storm. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-had-top-secret-clearance-and-everything-i-was-working-on-a-couple/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [“You’re infamous. Apparently you have hair the colour of a desert sunset, and eyes that flash like a desert storm—nobody told me that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-washington/you-re-infamous-apparently-you-have-hair-the-colour-of-a-desert/) [Jane Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-washington/) > [Desert Storm created the pattern for the American way of war that eventually prevailed in Kosovo. America learned from Vietnam that unilateral use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/desert-storm-created-the-pattern-for-the-american-way-of-war-that/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Battles that involve oatmeal are just never going to end up being historic, you know?" Jake went on. "Gettysburg? No major oatmeal involvement. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/battles-that-involve-oatmeal-are-just-never-going-to-end-up-being/) [Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/) > [Early in my career, I served in the Army. I took care of wounded soldiers in Operation Desert Storm, and I saw what weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/early-in-my-career-i-served-in-the-army-i-took-care-of-wounded/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) > [In my day, we had mastered high-intensity conflict, which is why I think we were so successful in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/in-my-day-we-had-mastered-high-intensity-conflict-which-is-why-i/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [“What’s wrong, Mom?” Anna asked. Mom looked like she’d been crying, but she said, “Nothing, sweetie.” “Who is Dad talking to?” I asked. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/what-s-wrong-mom-anna-asked-mom-looked-like-she-d-been-crying-but-she/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [“It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps. For two decades,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-strategic-fad-to-justify/) Michael O'Hanlon > [Desert Storm was a war which involved the massive use of air power and a victory achieved by the U.S. and multinational air force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-mcpeak/desert-storm-was-a-war-which-involved-the-massive-use-of-air-power/) Merrill McPeak > [“Time plays no role in the life of one man—the subtle consciousness of it floating past me is more than enough. Years, months, days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-martin/time-plays-no-role-in-the-life-of-one-man-the-subtle-consciousness-of/) [Henry Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-martin/) > [The liberation of Kuwait has begun. In conjunction with the forces of our coalition partners, the United States has moved under the code name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-liberation-of-kuwait-has-begun-in-conjunction-with-the-forces-of/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Stop playin you lil cockmouth fuckers. The game is over Stack bundles. I'm here now. Farrock America Desert Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stack-bundles/stop-playin-you-lil-cockmouth-fuckers-the-game-is-over-stack-bundles/) Stack Bundles ## More by Sherman Alexie > [“He says the earth is an oval marble that nobody can win. He says the sky is not blue and the grass is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/he-says-the-earth-is-an-oval-marble-that-nobody-can-win-he-says-the/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Now, in the old days, Indians used to be forgiving of any kind of eccentricity. In fact, weird people were often celebrated. Epileptics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/now-in-the-old-days-indians-used-to-be-forgiving-of-any-kind-of/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Since Jesus was human then he most assuredly farted and burped. And if God did create us in God's image then God must fart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/since-jesus-was-human-then-he-most-assuredly-farted-and-burped-and-if/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“A century ago she might have been beautiful, her face reflected in the river instead of a mirror. But all the years have changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/a-century-ago-she-might-have-been-beautiful-her-face-reflected-in-the/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“In all those stories, I could fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/in-all-those-stories-i-could-fly/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I don't think there's a whole lot of class literature at all. I think most of that has become racially based, and people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-whole-lot-of-class-literature-at-all-i-think/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [She wanted to be buried in a coffin filled with used paperbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/she-wanted-to-be-buried-in-a-coffin-filled-with-used-paperbacks/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Is there really a difference between that killing and this killing? Does God approve of some killing and not other killing? If I kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/is-there-really-a-difference-between-that-killing-and-this-killing/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Son, things have never been like how you think they used to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/son-things-have-never-been-like-how-you-think-they-used-to-be/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [My parents banned nothing, though the Christian fundamentalists in my tribe held book-and-record burnings every now and again. So, yes, fundamentalist assholes can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/my-parents-banned-nothing-though-the-christian-fundamentalists-in-my/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Or maybe I could have anesthetized myself with homework and extra credit and binge-reading.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/or-maybe-i-could-have-anesthetized-myself-with-homework-and-extra/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Dear wife, I'm sorry that I am mysteriously incapable of folding clean laundry, but I iron, oh, I iron. Sweetheart, I'll make your white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/dear-wife-i-m-sorry-that-i-am-mysteriously-incapable-of-folding-clean/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Gordy,” I said. “I need to talk to you." "I don't have time," he said. "Mr. Orcutt and I have to debug some PCs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/gordy-i-said-i-need-to-talk-to-you-i-don-t-have-time-he-said-mr/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“The United States wants all of us to forget the crimes it committed against the indigenous. The United States wants us to forget. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/the-united-states-wants-all-of-us-to-forget-the-crimes-it-committed/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I think that white women are more apt to read laterally. So I think there's some strong identification for women, and their political and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-think-that-white-women-are-more-apt-to-read-laterally-so-i-think/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) [Explore all 546 Sherman Alexie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) ## More Desert storm quotes > [I wanted to serve. It was Desert Storm. I thought, 'I was a rich kid, and America's been good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-wanted-to-serve-it-was-desert-storm-i-thought-i-was-a-rich-kid-and/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [The liberation of Kuwait has begun. In conjunction with the forces of our coalition partners, the United States has moved under the code name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-liberation-of-kuwait-has-begun-in-conjunction-with-the-forces-of/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [“Time plays no role in the life of one man—the subtle consciousness of it floating past me is more than enough. Years, months, days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-martin/time-plays-no-role-in-the-life-of-one-man-the-subtle-consciousness-of/) [Henry Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-martin/) > [Desert Storm was a war which involved the massive use of air power and a victory achieved by the U.S. and multinational air force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-mcpeak/desert-storm-was-a-war-which-involved-the-massive-use-of-air-power/) Merrill McPeak > [“It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps. For two decades,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-strategic-fad-to-justify/) Michael O'Hanlon > [“What’s wrong, Mom?” Anna asked. Mom looked like she’d been crying, but she said, “Nothing, sweetie.” “Who is Dad talking to?” I asked. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/what-s-wrong-mom-anna-asked-mom-looked-like-she-d-been-crying-but-she/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [In my day, we had mastered high-intensity conflict, which is why I think we were so successful in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/in-my-day-we-had-mastered-high-intensity-conflict-which-is-why-i/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [Early in my career, I served in the Army. I took care of wounded soldiers in Operation Desert Storm, and I saw what weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/early-in-my-career-i-served-in-the-army-i-took-care-of-wounded/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) > [Battles that involve oatmeal are just never going to end up being historic, you know?" Jake went on. "Gettysburg? No major oatmeal involvement. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/battles-that-involve-oatmeal-are-just-never-going-to-end-up-being/) [Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/) > [Desert Storm created the pattern for the American way of war that eventually prevailed in Kosovo. America learned from Vietnam that unilateral use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/desert-storm-created-the-pattern-for-the-american-way-of-war-that/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“You’re infamous. Apparently you have hair the colour of a desert sunset, and eyes that flash like a desert storm—nobody told me that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-washington/you-re-infamous-apparently-you-have-hair-the-colour-of-a-desert/) [Jane Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-washington/) > [I had top-secret clearance and everything. I was working on a couple of projects that would keep me involved in Desert Storm. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-had-top-secret-clearance-and-everything-i-was-working-on-a-couple/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [While the Assads are despotic, George H.W. Bush made the father an ally in Desert Storm, and Ehud Barak offered to return to Hafez…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/while-the-assads-are-despotic-george-h-w-bush-made-the-father-an-ally/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I was fortunate to have served in leadership positions throughout my entire service in the Army. I was in my first unit for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/i-was-fortunate-to-have-served-in-leadership-positions-throughout-my/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) > [Stop playin you lil cockmouth fuckers. The game is over Stack bundles. I'm here now. Farrock America Desert Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stack-bundles/stop-playin-you-lil-cockmouth-fuckers-the-game-is-over-stack-bundles/) Stack Bundles [Browse all 32 Desert storm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert-storm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Shit,\" he said. \"I don't know why you're feeling sorry for yourself because you ain't had to fight a war. You're lucky. Shit, all you had was that damn Desert Storm. Should have called it Dessert Storm because it just made the fat cats get fatter. It was all sugar and whipped cream with a cherry on top. And besides that, you didn't even have to fight in it. 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