Honoring the Thousand

_Q_ · #1 09-09-2004, 01:50 PM

Tonight (September 9), moveon.org is holding candlelight vigils across the country to honor the 1000 American soldiers who have died in Iraq. The site http://www.moveon.org has information and http://action.moveon.org/vigil can help you find one near where you live. I think it would be great to have many people attend, including Greeks.

Rudey · #2 09-09-2004, 01:53 PM

Right...so honor these men in a celebration held by a group that says their deaths were for nothing.

-Rudey

Kevin · #3 09-09-2004, 02:09 PM

I don't think most of these soldiers would be honored by anything moveon.org has done.

_Q_ · #4 09-09-2004, 02:22 PM

I respect that not everyone on GC agrees with moveon.org's ideology. However, they have promised that this would be "simple and dignified." They also say, "This is not a rally. Although we may be moved emotionally by our shared reflection and acknowledgement, this is not the place for speeches or announcements." Although I have some strong opinions, I was planning to abide by the ground rules and hope that everyone else there does too.

Rudey · #5 09-09-2004, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by _Q_
I respect that not everyone on GC agrees with moveon.org's ideology. However, they have promised that this would be "simple and dignified." They also say, "This is not a rally. Although we may be moved emotionally by our shared reflection and acknowledgement, this is not the place for speeches or announcements." Although I have some strong opinions, I was planning to abide by the ground rules and hope that everyone else there does too.

Ummm

"1,000 military men and women have now died in this misconceived war. On September 9th at 8pm, we're joining with the Win Without War coalition to hold hundreds of candlelight vigils. "

Right...

-Rudey
--So basically let's hold a rally to say they died for nothing

KellyB369 · #6 09-09-2004, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
I don't think most of these soldiers would be honored by anything moveon.org has done.

Agreed. I pray for the soldiers and their families daily, but there is not a chance in hell that I would attend anything sponsored by moveon.org. I think a vigil remembering the deceased soldiers that also showed their families and all of the other soldiers how much we appreciate the sacrafices they make for our country would be much more appropriate.

_Q_ · #7 09-09-2004, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
Ummm

"1,000 military men and women have now died in this misconceived war. On September 9th at 8pm, we're joining with the Win Without War coalition to hold hundreds of candlelight vigils. "

Right...

-Rudey
--So basically let's hold a rally to say they died for nothing

To be honest, I believe that there are some parallels between Iraq and Vietnam. The problem is that it's not going well and the Iraqi people don't want us there, no matter what Fox News says.
So I guess I feel the same way about the soldiers who died in Iraq as I do about the soldiers that died in Vietnam. It wasn't their fault that they were there, and they deserve to be honored for their service. When I visited the Vietnam War memorial in DC, I was really moved, and I hope that something equally impressive is constructed for these soldiers. However, this still doesn't mean that I think that either war was justified.

Rudey · #8 09-09-2004, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by _Q_
To be honest, I believe that there are some parallels between Iraq and Vietnam. The problem is that it's not going well and the Iraqi people don't want us there, no matter what Fox News says.
So I guess I feel the same way about the soldiers who died in Iraq as I do about the soldiers that died in Vietnam. It wasn't their fault that they were there, and they deserve to be honored for their service. When I visited the Vietnam War memorial in DC, I was really moved, and I hope that something equally impressive is constructed for these soldiers. However, this still doesn't mean that I think that either war was justified.

I don't know how Vietnam came up or what it has to do with this, but I've posted several posts on this topic. There is nothing similar other than they were wars and the similarities are to any war and not Vietnam.

Again, this organization has an agenda and it's not to honor the troops. In fact I feel sad that it's doing it because it's trying to piggy back on their sacrifices. That shouldn't be - not with any political part. I believe municipalities and organizations should honor them without any other motive whatsoever.

-Rudey

33girl · #9 09-09-2004, 02:53 PM

Until there's a draft, this ain't no Vietnam.

_Q_ · #10 09-09-2004, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KellyB369
Agreed. I pray for the soldiers and their families daily, but there is not a chance in hell that I would attend anything sponsored by moveon.org. I think a vigil remembering the deceased soldiers that also showed their families and all of the other soldiers how much we appreciate the sacrafices they make for our country would be much more appropriate.

I agree that turning this into an anti-Bush political rally would be abhorrent. However, I think there's another issue here.
Someone told me that years ago, the Prussian king had to ride out into the field after every war and look at the faces of the dead. We're not comfortable with this. Al-Jazeera's Baghdad office gets shut down for showing disturbing images, and there's a flap when coffins of returning soldiers are photographed. In the movie "Control Room," someone says, "Every war has a human cost." We should never forget this.

KellyB369 · #11 09-09-2004, 02:54 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you sign up to serve in the military don't you know that it means you may end up fighting in a war and it may be a war you don't believe in? I am sure it is hard for the soldiers and their families who don't believe in this war, but didn't they know going in that going off to war was a possibility?

Rudey · #12 09-09-2004, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
Until there's a draft, this ain't no Vietnam.

This ain't no Vietnam period. (<---see the period?)

-Rudey

LXAAlum · #13 09-09-2004, 02:57 PM

What angers me is the illogic of this...where was the candlelight vigil for #1? #145? #999? Are their deaths less significant? Apparently so according to those that disagree with the war.

I don't recall ever reading any political or military manual that says once we reach x number of deaths, it's time for retreat. Sure, maybe on a percentage basis...but nothing about specific thresholds.

Each and everyone of those killed or injured, or who will be in the future willingly volunteered for the risks, to defend our country and way of life, and to guarantee the rights for those who oppose the mission to be able to speak freely.

Each one is a hero in my book.

KellyB369 · #14 09-09-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by _Q_
I agree that turning this into an anti-Bush political rally would be abhorrent. However, I think there's another issue here.
Someone told me that years ago, the Prussian king had to ride out into the field after every war and look at the faces of the dead. We're not comfortable with this. Al-Jazeera's Baghdad office gets shut down for showing disturbing images, and there's a flap when coffins of returning soldiers are photographed. In the movie "Control Room," someone says, "Every war has a human cost." We should never forget this.

We as Americans are not comfortable with seeing death ever whether it is woman who was murdered by her husband, a child who was beaten to death by a parent or a soldier who was blown up in Iraq. We are not in denial of what is going on. Some of just don't think it is respectful to show those kinds of things on TV. You could argue that coffins are ok, but the disturbing images - not necessary.
What does this have to do with the vigil anyway? Are they going to be showing distrubing pictures of all the dead soldiers? There is nothing wrong with holding a vigil for these men but what gives moveon.org the right to host it. They clearly are doing it for political gain.

KellyB369 · #15 09-09-2004, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LXAAlum
What angers me is the illogic of this...where was the candlelight vigil for #1? #145? #999? Are their deaths less significant? Apparently so according to those that disagree with the war.

I don't recall ever reading any political or military manual that says once we reach x number of deaths, it's time for retreat. Sure, maybe on a percentage basis...but nothing about specific thresholds.

Each and everyone of those killed or injured, or who will be in the future willingly volunteered for the risks, to defend our country and way of life, and to guarantee the rights for those who oppose the mission to be able to speak freely.

Each one is a hero in my book.

Thank you!