"God bless you for doing that," said a 50 ish woman as she lowered the windows in her SUV. "Did you lose anyone over there?"
"I feel as if I lost everyone over there," I replied. "Thank you," stated an 85 ish man in the back seat, while a woman of similar age sitting next to him nodded her head in agreement.
He leaned forward and reached out his large right hand. It was gnarled at the wrist with age, and his long fingers were bent. But he grasped my hand firmly and looked me squarely in the eyes. "Thank you," he repeated.
His heavily lined face showed the passage of time, but his voice was as firm as his handshake. During World War ll, he was young and in his youth, like many men of that era, he likely served in the war. Or like others, he endured rationing and shortages and sacrificed his personal comforts for it, something America no longer does.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, in Afghanistan's capitol Kabul, a suicide bomber behind the wheel of an explosive packed minivan drove it into an unmarked U.S. military convoy, killing 18 people, including 5 U.S. soldiers. 50 others were severely injured.
The thunderous explosion rocked the city, as it thrust cars into the air and blasted shrapnel in every direction. When the black smoke and fiery orange flames cleared, heads and hands and other body parts were scattered over a wide area, all that was left of what moments before, had been the lives of men, women and children. Imagine how their families reacted to this news.
On Wednesday, the Taliban struck again, this time attacking Bagram the massive and supposedly impenetrable U.S. military base 30 miles from Kabul. Suicide bombers and others firing rockets and grenades injured at least 6 soldiers, while 7 of the attackers were killed. The message for the Americans and the Afghan people is that after nearly 9 years since the U.S. invasion and occupation, no place in Afghanistan is safe.
While in Iraq on Wednesday, 14 Iraqis were killed and 32 severely injured in explosions and gunfire throughout the nation, and on Thursday, 10 more Iraqis were killed and 46 severely injured, an everyday occurrence there. Unfounded rumors spread that the U.S. might try to wall off Baghdad. This after more than 7 years since the U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq.
Thousands of miles away, last night's vigil was joined by a 50 ish couple who often participate, and later by John Fortier, who often joins. John is a Korean War veteran who holds a vigil every Friday evening at a nearby location, and has done so since shortly before the U.S. invaded Iraq.
Throughout the vigil there were horn honks and waves of support. It is reassuring to know the people who have paid so severe a price in these wars are not forgotten, even as their numbers continue to grow.
If we want these wars to end, each of us must raise our voices. For in our silence the U.S. Gov't escalates the violence, as do its enemies seeking revenge, rather than acting as rational people and sitting down to negotiate peace agreements. In peace agreements is how most wars end and these likely will as well. Why not do it now and save vast numbers of lives? Why not spare numerous additional families the irreparable heartache of burying their loved ones? As these questions go unanswered, with compassion for those forced to suffer in these wars, we raise our voices and hold our vigils.
Dick
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