Real Meaning of 4,000 Dead Posted by Shawn Brimley

I found this short piece in TIME by a young LT in Iraq to be amongst the most powerful things I have read on the war. It is worth reading and reflecting on:

"For the vast majority of American's who don't have a loved one overseas, the only number they have to attempt to grasp the Iraq War is 4,000. I would ask that when you see that number, try to remember that it is made up of over 1 million smaller numbers; that every one of the 1 million service members who have fought in Iraq has his or her own personal numbers. Over 1 million 8's and 3's. When you are evaluating the price of the war, weighing potential rewards versus cost in blood and treasure, I would ask you to consider what is worth the lives of three of your loved ones? Or eight? Or more? It would be a tragedy for my 8 and 3 to have died without us being able to complete our mission, but it maybe even more tragic for 8 and 3 to become anything higher."

Lieut. Sean Walsh patrolling the streets of Baghdad.

Comments

[no]

"1 million smaller numbers;"

I thought for a minute he meant the Iraqi dead.

[Mike M.]

I wonder about this "vast majority" of Americans comment... Maybe the vast majority of us don't know anyone over there right now, but if you ask us who has known somebody who has been there (and has maybe returned and maybe not in the same condition they were) then a lot of us have personal connections to this conflict.

I don't think we're doing enough to stress that. If people in American feel personally disconnected from this war it's only because the people who chose to wage this war wanted it that way.