"I was just reading your sign," said a 25 ish muscular jogger as he leaned forward, his hands on his knees as he gasped for air. He'd been running hard and the perspiration from his head and chest splattered on to the sidewalk like falling rain drops.
"My friend was killed in Afghanistan," he said, still trying to catch his breath. "He was 24." He fell silent for a moment and then added with an ache in his voice, "I think about him every day."
It is moments like this that bring extra meaning to the vigil. And a busy vigil it was as many people honked or waved and a few uttered supportive words as simple as 'thank you.' It is assuring to know the vigil reminds others of the severe price being paid by so many, often with little or no media attention.
"It's getting so bad," said a 50 year old woman who often joins the vigil, "that I can't stand to watch the news. I heard in the news that another suicide bomber struck today in Iraq. But I don't have any details."
In Iraq on Wednesday, 1 U.S. soldier died a non-combat death, 15 Iraqis were killed and 20 Iraqis were injured.
"I also heard," she added, "that Karzai, the President of Afghanistan cut a deal implementing some Sharia [Muslim] law. Now a woman can be raped by her husband and she has no rights. There's nothing she can do about it. Women got sold out again," she added wincing as if someone had stuck her with a needle. She felt vulnerable and as her facial muscles tightened it was as if to say, if this can happen to one woman it can happen to any woman. [For more information on what Hamid Karzai signed into law, please see http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 7468.story]
"Oh the news is so bad," said a 64 year old woman who often joins the vigil and did right after the other woman left. "I just try to put one foot in front of the other and go on with my life. I have a nephew in Afghanistan," she added as she tilted her head back and rolled her eyes in disbelief.
"What is the U.S. doing in Iraq," asked a 60 ish man as he walked up and shook my hand. "What is it trying to do? It should get out." He smiled but it was one of sarcasm as his lips pulled back revealing teeth tightly clenched, while his head shook side to side as if he was saying no, as he began to walk away. Then he stopped, turned around and added, "The U.S. is broke," as if to say how will the U.S. pay for its wars and why spend its money this way.
As he waved goodbye, it was 7 pm and time to end the vigil. I picked up the sign and the stand and started to leave and more horns of support began to honk and a 70 ish man leaned down to read the sign. As his eyes opened wide he whispered, "thank you." It was a lovely ending.
Dick
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