"Have a good night, okay," said a 35 ish woman as she pulled her SUV to the curb and stopped, blocking rush hour traffic. Then she leaned across the passenger seat and smiled.
"Thank you," I replied, with a smile. She understood her kind gesture was appreciated but by not reaching to shake her hand, it encouraged her not to stop traffic and it was protective of her and others for what she did was thoughtful but dangerous.
Yet no-one honked a horn in anger.
A short time later a 50 ish friend arrived, driven by his daughter and they too pulled up, but the light turned red. He reached out and firmly shook my hand, as he nodded his head in agreement.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, the death and destruction continues. On Monday for example, a group of men dressed in Iraqi Army uniforms went to a village west of Baghdad. There they went door to door and took 13 men with them. Shortly afterward, the bodies of all 13 captives were found, each shot in the head.
On that day, 1 U.S. soldier was killed, as were 31 Iraqis and 52 Iraqis were seriously injured. The next day, 10 Iraqis were killed and 25 were seriously injured.
To add to the heartache and misery, basic services such as medical care, schools, electricity, clean water and sewage treatment are in short supply. The Iraq economy is in a Depression, with massive unemployment, making it hard for families to support themselves.
But thousands of miles away, as the vigil concluded two 45 ish women walked up and read the sign. "That's very nice," one said. "Thank you for caring about these people," I replied. "We do care," she answered. "Is there anything we can do?" "That you care is plenty," I stated with a smile as both ladies smiled back.
However, there is plenty more we can each do, whether it's taking to the streets or making donations to organizations that help soldiers and their families or the Iraqis in need, all of whom have paid a severe price in a war that never should have begun, yet 61/2 years later is allowed to continue.
Dick
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