Bombs, Fuses, You and Me (555 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.16 on 45 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by OathMeal and his PWNZORS gun (View user info) at 2006-09-05 09:54:53 EDT
The below is a true story.
_____________________________________________________
Self-destruction is strangely captivating.
Consider this: a bomb by any other name wouldn't be a bomb. It has a fuse, long or short, and it's combustible. Some bombs are deadly; some are just for fun. The Black Cat firecrackers you enjoyed setting off as a kid (and perhaps even still enjoy) would be great examples of those bombs that are not deadly.
What happens when humans become bombs?
No, I don't mean "What happens when radical middle easterners stitch sticks of dynamite into their jackets and walk into federal buildings", no. I mean simply this: even as bombs have fuses and varying levels of explosive magnitude, so do humans.
I have a fuse. You have a fuse. Mine might be shorter than yours. Yours might be the shortest fuse on the block. In the city. In the nation. But then, even as short as your fuse is, your 'explosive magnitude' may be nil. So then what's the worry in pissing off someone like that? That is, someone with so short a fuse but so little to offer in their 'explosion'? Seems it'd be just like another day in the life of a 10 year-old, running 'round in the driveway happy as can be, with his fists full of Black Cat firecrackers.
Nothing to worry about, right?
Right.
I remember a young boy I encountered in military school. His name was Daryl Lynn Waters ... I remember his full name so well because of the 'magnitude' of his 'explosion'.
[Please suspend your homoerotic tendencies for just a few minutes, Method]
Daryl served as an iconic example of someone with a very long fuse but also as someone with an unparalleled explosive caliber. Daryl was short, pale, redheaded and not particularly bright but the potential was there. I saw this in him because I *was* him not 5 years prior. Daryl caught a lot of shit in those barracks ... a lot of hazing, 'blanket parties', forced ingestion of the foulest substances you could imagine, etc.
It was all part of graduating from 'Scrub' status there at Lyman Ward Military Academy (www.lwma.org). Once you proved yourself worthy of rank, most the subjugation stopped.
Emphasis on the word 'most'.
Daryl was awarded Private First-Class within about a month. Shortly thereafter, the Corporal insignia graced his lapels. Finally, and much to the shigrin of his classmen, Daryl Lynn Waters became Sergeant. You could almost hear the teeth grinding in resentment as Daryl's tactical officer pinned the 3 chevrons on him for the first time.
That same night, Daryl would be beaten severely and left an aching mass huddled beneath his sheets, bleeding.
Daryl saw me just about every other day. Though he was an 8th grader and I was graduating that year, we passed each other in the corridors of Tallapoosa Hall, the academy's 'academic' building, quite often. He always seemed kind of detached, sort of like a part of him was elsewhere. But because of the sheer volume of kids his age and with his disposition, I thought little of it.
Again ... long fuse, unprecedented explosion.
Daryl Waters walked out to the Ranger Trail one evening (the Ranger Trail was where the LWMA 'Rangers' did their field exercises) and removed his boots. Daryl then pulled the laces from his boots and fashioned a makeshift noose. He climbed one of the pine trees lining the Ranger Trail and proceeded to hang himself. His body was found the next morning swaying lazily in the moist Alabama air.
I remember talking to Daryl's dad during homecoming when parents were allowed to visit their sons. Daryl's dad sat and played guitar with me, for Christ's sake. At Daryl's memorial, held at the LWMA Chapel and acting as the school's Religious Officer, I gave his eulogy. I tried to bring up all the good in him I saw but I think I fell a bit short in the end, because I fear I didn't know him well enough. Maybe I didn't know *myself* well enough at his age.
As long as his fuse was, his explosion was certainly one of immeasurable force.
RIP, Daryl.
User Reviews
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-10-27 13:40:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/95020#2202073
banning attempt
Submitted by TheCrystalShip (user info) at 2006-09-07 16:48:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Thanks for the -2, lol. Little bitch.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2006-09-06 23:03:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Suicide is not an 'explosion' of any magnitude. It's a whimper. The foolish and wasteful act of a weak person. Suicide cannot change anything in a positive way, does not make anyone think differently, does not have any long-term effect at all. "Bob thought this way." "Yeah, well, Bob hung himself. How right could he have been if he wouldn't even stand up for what he thought?" So ends the influence of Bob.
Heroes don't die at the end of a noose in which they put their own neck. Cowards die thus. How different would our today world be (provided you buy the story - I don't myself but I can't deny its influence on history) if Judas Escariot had forgone the noose and accepted Jesus' forgiveness for his betrayal?
Sorry you lost your acquaintance, but the sad truth is that both his life and death were wasted by his own choices. You have the opportunity to make something useful out of this accumulation of waste but that's your choice, not your friend's. He blew his shot at making a difference.
Submitted by paint_it_black (user info) at 2006-09-06 22:24:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
no not here
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2006-09-06 09:28:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
No Comment
Submitted by artmalone03 (user info) at 2006-09-06 03:27:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
this was shit and you are a gay cunt
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-09-05 18:27:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
ya. I'm a quick reader and I read the best rated and the comedy category ones.
On his old account he had one with +2 on 31 reviews, so obviously a fair few people do find him funny though
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 18:16:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-09-05 18:07:58 (#)
Ranking: 1
OK you're right, he's not funny.
===========
Thank you.
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and trust that you actually *did* read a few of his posts (even the best of them).
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-09-05 18:07:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
OK you're right, he's not funny.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-09-05 17:55:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
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Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:55:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by The_Mighty_Badger (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:53:47 (#)
Ranking: 0
So Oathy you're a wanna' be emo huh? Funny shit man, now I realise why you cry whenever I say something to you.
----
TMB, you find one person who thinks you're even remotely funny. ONE.
Have them say so, to me, and I will paypal you $50. No shit.
Fact: you blow.
See that little dot at the end of that sentence right there? That's a period.
Period.
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I am going to read all the posts on both his accounts, if I find something funny, you owe him $50.
I'm like that.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-09-05 17:03:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
+2 PWNZORS
Submitted by The_Mighty_Badger (user info) at 2006-09-05 16:49:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2006-09-05 16:41:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-09-05 16:22:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-09-05 15:19:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Comment
Submitted by extacy_red (user info) at 2006-09-05 14:56:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Shut the hell up.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2006-09-05 14:53:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 14:41:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-09-05 14:35:14 (#)
Ranking: -2
~OathMeal Approved~
=========
Y HALO THAR OATHMEAL COCKRIDER!
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-09-05 14:35:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
~OathMeal Approved~
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-09-05 13:31:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry man, I had a few friends kill themselves too. Never the way out. Never respect it.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:43:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:40:07 (#)
Ranking: -2
Kill yourself
=============
Don't worry, Brad.
I'll be coming over to squat and shit all over whatever new, rambling heap of bullshit you've posted today.
In fact, I'm en route. See you in a sec.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:42:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by goferforhire (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:40:51 (#)
Ranking: 2
you can write?!
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Only on Tuesdays. Strange I know.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:41:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:30:19 (#)
Ranking: 2
Pretty good.
"Shigrin", though, is spelled "chagrin".
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Thanks.
Submitted by goferforhire (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:40:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you can write?!
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:40:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-09-05 11:54:53 (#)
Ranking: 0
Killing yourself is fucking weak. End of story.
---------------
You and I will *never* agree on anything. I'm convinced of it.
Convinced that is, but not unhappy about it.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:40:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Kill yourself
Submitted by Uberjunkie (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:39:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Not very well written, but still managed to hold my attention and kudos for writing about something real.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:30:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Pretty good.
"Shigrin", though, is spelled "chagrin".
Submitted by The_Mighty_Badger (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:28:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You +2ed all of your posts with your own alter?
Submitted by Life101 (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:19:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
This is way better than your chats.
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2006-09-05 11:57:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-09-05 11:54:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Killing yourself is fucking weak. End of story.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:35:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:33:09 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:29:42 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:24:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
did you ever drill holes into people's hands?
http://www.waltonlaw.net/Article_10/cadetabuse_2.shtml
That school is fucked up.
=================
Indo,
THANK YOU for posting that link.
You would be amazed at the number of abuse cases on the docket involving LWMA. I never drilled any holes but I did experience many, many instances like this one.
In once case I witnessed a cadet being raped with a shower pipe. This was especially gruesome as the person doing the raping was HIMSELF being forced to do so.
And this just scratches the surface.
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You should sue for having to watch that...
--------------------------
Already went that route. Not enough 'corroborating evidence'.
Submitted by a_little_more_time (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:33:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Interesting that all this torture goes on in the name of "brotherhood".
"If these be our brothers, what is our conduct toward our enemy?"
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:33:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:29:42 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:24:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
did you ever drill holes into people's hands?
http://www.waltonlaw.net/Article_10/cadetabuse_2.shtml
That school is fucked up.
=================
Indo,
THANK YOU for posting that link.
You would be amazed at the number of abuse cases on the docket involving LWMA. I never drilled any holes but I did experience many, many instances like this one.
In once case I witnessed a cadet being raped with a shower pipe. This was especially gruesome as the person doing the raping was HIMSELF being forced to do so.
And this just scratches the surface.
--------------------------
You should sue for having to watch that...
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:29:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:24:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
did you ever drill holes into people's hands?
http://www.waltonlaw.net/Article_10/cadetabuse_2.shtml
That school is fucked up.
=================
Indo,
THANK YOU for posting that link.
You would be amazed at the number of abuse cases on the docket involving LWMA. I never drilled any holes but I did experience many, many instances like this one.
In once case I witnessed a cadet being raped with a shower pipe. This was especially gruesome as the person doing the raping was HIMSELF being forced to do so.
And this just scratches the surface.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:24:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
did you ever drill holes into people's hands?
http://www.waltonlaw.net/Article_10/cadetabuse_2.shtml
That school is fucked up.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:23:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:20:06 (#)
Ranking: 1
http://www.lwalumni.org/taps.html it says he went there at the age of 15, or was that another Daryl Waters?
Anyone who sends there kids to military school is fucked up, end of story.
---------
My math here may be a bit muddied by the years that have passed. Perhaps he was 15. So, the span there between us was more like 3 years.
Another very, very interesting note:
In the school annual for that year, Daryl Waters' photograph was missing. It wasn't because he was dead when they were taking pictures, it was because he fell ill that day and never made up the picture.
Further, the 'group' photo of Daryl's company (Alpha Company) depicts something VERY bizarre. If you're interested in this, send me an e-mail and I'll disclose more information.
bretd9.at.gmail.com
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:22:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:20:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
http://www.lwalumni.org/taps.html it says he went there at the age of 15, or was that another Daryl Waters?
Anyone who sends there kids to military school is fucked up, end of story.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:14:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Have a +1 because anything anyone writes can be irrelevant to someone and the writing and content should be judged on merrit, not relevance. It wasn't the worst thin I read nor the best, but I get what you mean about haveing to write about a tragedy. I did that with one of my posts. So yeah +1 from me.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:08:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:04:53 (#)
Ranking: 0
Can't think of a comment. Well written but pointless to me. Sorry dude.
========
Thanks.
No apologies needed. I kinda wanted to get this out there for a while as sort of a cathartic thing, pointless as it may be.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:06:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Homer: This place is depressing.
Grampa: Hey! I live here.
Homer: Oh, well, I'm sure it's a blast once you get used to it.
-- Homer Simpson
Bart vs. Thanksgiving
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:04:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Can't think of a comment. Well written but pointless to me. Sorry dude.
Submitted by a_little_more_time (user info) at 2006-09-05 10:02:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I won't be one of the people on here who'll say "d00d that's what happenz when u join da KILLitary, st00p1d!!!12!", since God knows there'll be plenty of responses to that effect. I'm not a military freak, either; I just view it as anything else; it can help as much as it hurts.
I will say, tho', that this isn't the first story I've heard to this effect. It's a shame that these things happen, in the military, in regular damn schools, and in the world at large.
+2 for relevance.