If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
Tammy DuckworthRead
As I recovered at Walter Reed, I worried about the soldiers who pulled me out of my helicopter that Friday afternoon. Would they make it back okay? And what about all the other soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who were also putting their lives on the line every day?
Interpretation
The quote reflects concerns for the well-being of fellow soldiers who risk their lives for others.
In this quote, Tammy Duckworth expresses her profound gratitude and worry for her fellow service members during her recovery at Walter Reed. She acknowledges the sacrifices made by those in the military and highlights the deep sense of camaraderie and responsibility that exists among soldiers, emphasizing a shared commitment to each other's safety and sacrifice in service to their country.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech to honor veterans during a Memorial Day ceremony.
If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in combat missions and achieve my American Dream.
I went to Iraq in 2004 because I believe in doing my duty, not because I agreed with the war.
The women putting their lives at risk for our country deserve better than to be treated as second-class citizens.
The wheelchair and the prosthesis give me a soapbox to stand on. If it helps me get my message across, I'm glad; then we need to talk about what we need to do for this country.
My experience in Iraq made me realize, and during the recovery, that I could have died. And I just had to do more with my life.
Enduring and forgiving are two different things. You must not forgive the cruelty of this world. It's our duty as human beings to be angry at injustice. But we must also endure it. Because someone must sever this chain of hatred.
We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.
Playing Etta James in the movie 'Cadillac Records' really changed me. It was a darker character, and I realized that if anything is too comfortable, I want to run from it. It's no fun being safe.
We shall continue our fight for democracy and freedom because we do not accept that Hong Kong will be transformed into a police state.
If I feel strongly, I say it. I know I can do more good by being vocal than by staying quiet. I'd have a whole lot more money if I lied, but I wouldn't enjoy spending it.
Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself. Be bold. When you embark for strange places, don't leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory.
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