In Remembrance ...
Posted by Damien Shirley on March 20, 2007 at 04:35 PM
My College Democrats chapter commemorated the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War today by reading the names of each and every fallen soldier right in the middle of campus.
I took up the somber task of reading the names from the list of casualties. It’s an immense list—70 pages long, as thick as a medium-length paperback book. It cites the name, age, rank and date of death for each soldier, almost 46 per page.
I began reading at 11:00 sharp—right after the chimes from the clock on campus faded away—with the first name: Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, Marine Major. I read through all the names, the ages, the ranks, one right after the other, page after page—it took three and a half hours, almost a thousand names per hour.
It was an extremely sobering experience—all of those names, each representing a father, a son, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a family member; each representing an entire life lost. So many of their ages were so close to my own, and some were even younger than me when they gave their lives, sacrificed everything.
I think everyone should take some time to look through the list of casualties, to honor the dead and to ensure they will never be forgotten. Perhaps, one day, all of these names will be on a memorial built to ensure that we never make the same mistake again.
Damien Shirley is the Vice President of the George Washington University College Democrats and an intern for The Democratic Party.
Comments (7) «
When I see the tragedy of this war, I remember what Governor Dean said about 4 years ago about the dangers of pre-emptive war.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1205
"When Congress approved the President’s authorization to go to war in Iraq – no matter how well-intentioned – it was giving the green light to the President to set his Doctrine of preemptive war in motion. It now appears that Iraq was just the first step."
A lot more about it at the link.
It's a shame most people were thinking about partying and St. Pat's Day this past weekend rather than these fine men and women and what they gave for their country...for four long years now.
That's what pre-emptive wars do. They are incursions into other peoples' lives half way around the world for reasons that get cloudier the longer they last. The country has not made a national commitment to this Iraqi occupation like our troops have.
They served and died. But they have been pushed to the back of our conscience. I'm afraid that the same thing that happened to the Vietnam vets is going to happen again. They are the forgotten and the disposable...out of sight and out of mind.
The American people do not buy into this war; and unfortunately, their lack of commitment is being seen in their indifference to the suffering of those who are trapped in it's violence and horror.
For those that serve, this war will never end. They will be scarred by the memories of this brutal and needless occupation for the rest of their lives. They really are the few, the brave, and the invisible.
I salute you and wish you were home with your famuilies tonight.
i too salute our finest. i am saddend when i learn another has fallen for the folley of this administration. i am sickend when another injured returns for 2nd class medical when the likes of george, dick, and karl receive immediate and better than 1st class medical. i'm disgusted that other nations see america as the great satan. i'm disillusioned knowing that george is in charge until 2008. for better or worse, there's a future for america. i'd like to see the likes of a gore-obama for 2008. we need the world to be a community, and not some made up terms like the "axis of evil." the evil governs within our country. gore-obama sure looks refreshing.
How in the world does Tom Delay get away with going on TV and saying all charges have been dismissed against him. That is just not true.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1216
"On the Today Video with Meredith Viera today, Tom DeLay says the charges brought against him were frivolous, and he says they have all been dismissed."
Video is at the link.
Dear Damien, I hope you're ready to read hundreds, if not thousands of more names in the next few years as it has become obvious that the Democrats in Congress don't have the courage to stop this war. All they care about is not looking "soft" on "supporting the troops"All they care about is protecting themselves for the next election..If those gutless cowards really cared about the troops they would de-fund this war.Sincerely, Mike Dougherty
Good morning Dems!The sadness of the dead count is only part of this war.The wounded physically and mentally is huge.I am totally put off by our mainstream media who continue to bring on repubs with no democrats to counter balance the conversation.Are we lost in the media circus or are we choosing not to participate? Either way it makes it look like the democrats are hiding.
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