Mohawk
Marines Are People, Too
RECEIVED Tue., Jan. 15, 2008
Dear Editor,
I learned something new this week. I learned that Marines have names. That they are mothers, husbands, have children, have fathers, have mothers, and have other family members, too. I saw a face of not one Marine, but two. I saw them as Marines, but I saw pictures of them also as people. I saw them presented as people young and healthy, as normal people like you and me. I also saw a Marine who had fallen. I saw for the first time that Marines leave a body when dead and burned.
We, you and I, and especially our government have killed almost 4,000 of these people. Let me not be alarmist; the actual number is 3,924. Does anyone out there believe for one second that there will be maybe at least 4,000 if not even 5,000 more? Who knows how many wounded? When Marines die in Iraq or Afghanistan, they might get a mention of their unit, maybe even a lesson in addition; one added to 3,924 equals 3,925. Oddly enough, if they die in Walter Reed or Landstuhl Army hospitals, there will be no mention at all, but the number changes from 3,924 to 3,925 just the same.
Three thousand nine hundred and twenty-four people have died. Of course we have not seen 3,924 pictures of people nor 3,924 pictures of wives, husbands, children, fathers, mothers, and other family members, as well. Nothing but the number changes, from 3,924 to 3,925. There are only two questions really: Why, and who is to blame?
I learned something new this week. I learned that Marines have names. That they are mothers, husbands, have children, have fathers, have mothers, and have other family members, too. I saw a face of not one Marine, but two. I saw them as Marines, but I saw pictures of them also as people. I saw them presented as people young and healthy, as normal people like you and me. I also saw a Marine who had fallen. I saw for the first time that Marines leave a body when dead and burned.
We, you and I, and especially our government have killed almost 4,000 of these people. Let me not be alarmist; the actual number is 3,924. Does anyone out there believe for one second that there will be maybe at least 4,000 if not even 5,000 more? Who knows how many wounded? When Marines die in Iraq or Afghanistan, they might get a mention of their unit, maybe even a lesson in addition; one added to 3,924 equals 3,925. Oddly enough, if they die in Walter Reed or Landstuhl Army hospitals, there will be no mention at all, but the number changes from 3,924 to 3,925 just the same.
Three thousand nine hundred and twenty-four people have died. Of course we have not seen 3,924 pictures of people nor 3,924 pictures of wives, husbands, children, fathers, mothers, and other family members, as well. Nothing but the number changes, from 3,924 to 3,925. There are only two questions really: Why, and who is to blame?
Ron Ruiz
