"I thought the economic crisis would stop these wars," said a 63-year-old Haitian man who sometimes joins the vigil. "But it didn't.
"I don't know why we are fighting in Iraq," he continued. "They don't tell us. Originally it was for the oil and to get Saddam out. They did that and we stayed. The people don't like us anymore. How many people have been killed there? No-one knows. Over a million probably.
"In Afghanistan, the Taliban are determined and they intend to take over Pakistan, a nuclear nation. The crazies [are taking over].
"And that guy in Iran [President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] almost finally acknowledged the Holocaust happened. Netinyahu [Prime Minister] in Israel - he'll attack [Iran]. They won't even ask the U.S. for permission."
Meanwhile in Iraq, it was a brutal day. A suicide bomber in central Baghdad slipped in among the police who were handing out emergency food supplies to many hungry families in this war torn nation.
The suicide bomber was a young woman wearing a flowing black abaya a dress many Iraqi women wear. According to survivors of the blast she held the hand of a five-year-old girl as she worked her way into the center of the crowd.
Suddenly an ear splitting explosion shook everything with enormous force. An instant later 31 people were dead and 51 were wounded, among the dead were at least five children, their bodies lying in pools of blood, little chocolate biscuits scattered around them.
Also, a woman was crying out in sobs and screams slapping the sidewalk with her hands. She said she had just lost her husband, her son, her sister and six grandchildren according to The New York Times article.
While in a city about 50-miles from Baghdad, another suicide bomber walked into a crowded restaurant where Iranian pilgrims were having lunch. A heart beat later, the restaurant was in ruins, its roof having come crashing down and shattered cinders of glass were strewn far and wide as 48 people lay dead and 77 more were wounded.
With no regard for human life, those two suicide bombers had taken 79 lives and caused severe injuries to 128 others. But that doesn't start to measure the devastation for numerous families lost husbands and wives, mothers and fathers and children, while other children are orphaned. Still other people will now need a lifetime of care or will function missing an eye or one or more of their arms or legs.
These horrific events put fear in the hearts of millions of people, for each one knows he or she could be next. And by nightfall, some victims' families in their heartache and bitterness were likely swearing to get revenge as the seeds for further violence had found fertile ground.
But in the peaceful setting of the vigil, after sharing his concerns for the Middle East, this Haitian man shook my hand and quietly walked off into the distance. As he disappeared from view, a voice rang out, "Are you here all alone?"
It was a 50-something-year-old homeless woman I've known for months. She joined for the remaining 20-minutes of the vigil and waved at those who honked their horns in support of us.
"Vietnam was my era and it was yours too," she said as her eyes narrowed, her jaw tightened and her voice rose sharply in anger. "The way they treated the returning U.S. soldiers was disgraceful. Most of those soldiers didn't want to go to Vietnam. They did their duty and then people spat on them when they returned home."
During the conversation that followed, she calmed down. When the vigil came to a close she added with a warm sparkle in her eyes, "I'll try to return again," and then waved good night as she slowly turned and walked into the shadows cast in the sunlight.
"I salute you," said a 61-year-old man with his wife along side him as I was putting the sign away. He then gave a military salute, with strict upright posture as he raised his hand to his forehead.
"I was in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970," he stated in a serious tone of voice as he stared into my eyes. Then he looked away and was silent for an instant. He turned his head back and looked me in the eye again.
"They used to tell us that when we went home not to wear our uniform because people would spit on us." "Or worse," added his wife. "I was proud to be of service to my country and I wore my uniform," he added with dignity, pulling his shoulders back and holding his head high. Then he fell silent and looked away as he seemed lost in thought.
"One time," he suddenly blurted out in a higher pitched voice, "Two woman threw a coat at me and called me a 'baby killer.' Then his voice trailed off as tried to say more but couldn't. Instead, tears trickled down his cheeks. For 40-years, he has carried the burden of this terrible memory among the other horrific memories of Vietnam and it is right below the surface.
"I'm sorry," he said in a soft voice, as he wiped away his tears. "I didn't mean to get emotional," he added as his voice cracked. "Thank you for doing that. You don't allow those soldiers to be forgotten." "Nor do you allow their families to be forgotten either," his wife added.
Dick
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