If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
Tammy DuckworthRead
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Interpretation
Facing a disability can reveal one's hidden strengths and abilities.
This quote by Tammy Duckworth emphasizes that through the challenges of dealing with a disability, individuals can discover their true capabilities and learn how to utilize them in ways they may not have previously considered. It highlights the importance of resilience and the potential for personal growth that arises from adversity.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a rehabilitation center, one could share this quote to inspire those facing physical challenges.
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.
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?
Unless men are active allies, we'll never end violence against women and girls.
I was not afraid of the press or the militants. It was uncomfortable, but I was not afraid. With respect to the press, I knew I knew more than they knew about city matters. With respect to the militants, I understood it. I mean, everybody believed in those days that they were being screwed, you know, that somebody was getting ahead of them.
I'm always captivated by stories of women who find a way to be daring - misbehaving women.
Our men and women in uniform make enough sacrifices for our country. Their credit rating should not be one of those sacrifices.
Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done, Shoulder'd his crutch, and shew'd how fields were won.
The oppressed never free themselves - they do not have the necessary strengths.
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