John Brown

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Elspode

I believe we now have the winning answer to the question posed in this thread.

Tragic doesn't begin to describe it. This girl, so young, so beautiful, and still true to the man inside what could easily be described as a monster's form. To know that she will always kiss a face that would revile most other young women her age, to know that she will tend this man through countless more surgeries, trying to remediate the horrific damage done to him...would that I could only taste the smallest sample of such strength.

But the soldier shows his mettle as well, by taking his bride wearing the uniform of the very agency of his maiming. By having been tough enough, brave enough, desirous enough of a life with his intended to see through the tortures of his injuries.

Look hard at that picture, folks. *That* is the price of freedom. Let us hope that no leader ever squanders the precious contents of his or her purse, but instead views this photo before committing their best and bravest to such a fate.

My friend, may I remind you of your wise words preserved here:

Originally Posted by Elspode

BTW, not all women are externally beautiful. Neither are all men. However, beauty is a sum, not a fraction. If you take up with a person based solely on their external appearances, you're asking for major life trouble.

While I find the groom's appearance startling at first, I don't find any tragedy in it. Instead I find hope and joy.

Good grief, what's the man supposed to do otherwise? Just go away and stop offending my sensibilities? And the lovely bride shows that her comely outward appearance is matched by a similarly flawless character of devotion and discernment?

What do I know from just one photo? Nuttin. It could be a gag, he could be wearing a mask, she could be an insurance money golddigger and he could be and uncouth lout. Anything.

But what I think is behind this one photo is hope. Who gets married without being filled with hope?

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by BigV

My friend, may I remind you of your wise words preserved here:

Ah, but my statement above was intended to contrast the young woman against what I perceive to be a defacto societal norm. My words were in admiration, not criticism.

Clearly, the bride knows that beauty is only skin deep; knows it with every fiber of her being. I simply meant to illuminate that quality within her.

While there is indeed hope in what is pictured, there is also tragedy. Despite all the love and support in the world from his bride, the soldier will experience pain from his appearance, because the world and the people in it are not, all in all, as deep as the bride in the end.