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April 01, 2003

Pause And Remember

These Americans fought in battle and were lost while serving in the United States military within the last couple of weeks. The horror of their last moments haunts me when I look into their eyes. Great loss is followed now for their family by chilling absence. During the Vietnam war for 7 years, 150 such faces were lost each week.
I enjoin you to pause a moment today. And in the silence of your head amidst the chaos of the busy day, reflect on this sacrifice. Remove, for a second, the context your thoughts are born within, your politics, your ethics, your religion, your fears and your doubts. These guys were moving through a desert encountering the violence of the Saddam loyalists and the hope and depravity of innocent children ushered through broken streets by mothers and grandmas.
Their last days had more conflicting emotions than you and I may ever feel. Their last moments were far more violent than we can imagine, far more scary and lonely than anyone should suffer. More than six thousand miles away from their family, they perished.
I am so sad. Children lost their dads. More are missing. More will die. What lies in the future? Will Iraq ever cooperate? Will America be safer? Will the world seek a common peace? Will these soldiers have died in vain?

Posted by clappstar at April 1, 2003 08:44 AM