'LIKE NOTHING OVER HERE' and 'AIN'T THAT A ***'

Question

Hello,
I would like to know the meaning of these idioms (in capital letters) I have found reading Miles's autobigraphy:

'That same year black men were fighting in Worl War I to help the United States save the world for democracy. They sent us to war to fight and die for them over there; killed us LIKE NOTHING OVER HERE. And it's still like that today. NOW, AIN'T THAT A BITCH.'
Thanks in advance, Jo.

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

over there: in Europe
over here: in US
like nothing: very easily, with not too much thinking or remorse
ain't is isn't (I think this is eye dialect)

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I would like to know the meaning of these idioms (in capital letters) I have found reading Miles's autobigraphy: It might help a little to tell us who 'Miles' is. What's the full name? What field is he in? Do you mean the musician, Miles Davis?

'That same year black men were fighting in World War I to help the United States save the world for democracy. They sent us to war to fight and die for them over there; killed us LIKE NOTHING OVER HERE. And it's still like that today. NOW, AIN'T THAT A ***.'

killed us LIKE NOTHING OVER HERE. The meaning here seems a bit cryptic and obscure to me. This seems to mean 'the Germans killed us as if we had no importance'. Or possibly even that the United States killed us, in the sense that they sent us there to be killed.

NOW, AIN'T THAT A ***. This kind of expression usually means something like 'Isn't that a surprise' or 'Isn't that a shock' or 'Isn't that painful'.

Best wishes, Clive

Marius Hancu · Answer

I think this means (in the author's opininion)  that the black people/men were killed in Europe by the  enemy (Germans, etc) and at home in US by the white people, with very  little thought given to it.

'LIKE NOTHING OVER HERE' and 'AIN'T THAT A ***'

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