Weblog Entry - 03/30/2003: "Sacrifice"

03/30/2003 Entry: "Sacrifice"

Darren has been moved and challenged by newspaper photographs of soldiers killed in Iraq. I agree with him, that though I remain unconvinced of the justice of this war, it is always right that courage, loyalty and self-sacrifice should be honoured. He continues:

The other reaction that I had as I gazed at the faces of these young people was to ask 'V' - 'where are the others that have given their lives for this cause?' Where is the acknowledgement that other innocent people have had their lives taken? I notice that today the counter on my site says that between 320 and 428 civilians have been killed so far in this conflict.
Where are their photos, where is the acknowledgement of their pain and sacrifice for the 'cause'? After all these are the people 'our best' have gone to fight for the freedom of - so surely their passing deserves some recognition also.
On this day I wish to remember the lives of both our soldiers but also those whom we do not know the names or faces of - all who have given their lives in these violent times.

Amen to that.

Update: Jan pursued a similar theme yesterday, with the sensitivity and compassion you'd expect from her.

Replies:

I too was moved at the sight of people desperate for the food aid being distributed. I saw this, just after a meal and that made me feel the contrast keenly. Good food, shelter, water, security.

The other photograph which moved me deeply to tears was the shot of the shoes of a dead Iraqi soldier. Feet neatly crossed in death, clad in a pair of cheap ordinary shoes, totally inadequate for military purposes.

I blogged on this yesterday, and mentioned my feelings there. What can I do but pray? Support Red cross etc, but more is needed than that.Shalom, Jan

Posted by Jan @ 03/30/2003 12:08 PM CST

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