Long Time Passing

Susan Galleymore, the mother of a US soldier, chose not to wait at home for her son to return, or to die. Instead she left for Iraq to visit him at the base where he was stationed. This is a remarkable portrait of what it means to be a mother in a time of war. She tells of her continuing journey through the Middle East, interviewing mothers in war zones including Iraq, Israel and the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and the United States. In exploring how mothers cope with war, Galleymore confronts many issues, including the treatment of veterans, alarming US military recruitment techniques, conscientious objection and AWOL, courts martial and the failures of military leadership. She explores cultural differences and examines common assumptions civilians hold about war and why troops themselves are hesitant to share their own stories for fear of psychological breakdown. Long Time Passing gets to the heart of war and warriors, mothers and children, and explores the limits of courage and fear.