CJ The Significance of 2000
October 26th, 2005 by CJ
Personally, I don't understand it. If we're going to "honor" the soldiers who have fallen now that the death toll has reached 2000, wouldn't that cheapen those 1999 soldiers who died before them. Why not "honor" EVERY soldier that has fallen when they fall?
2000 is just a number. But that number is a soldier. People all around the country are trying to use this number as some sort of milestone. It just so happens that Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander Jr. (yes, "#2000" has a name) died of a roadside bomb, something I've dedicated the past two years trying to keep from happening.
The New York Times posted an interactive graphic with pictures of all the soldiers who have died so far. While it's a nice gesture, why'd they have to wait until 2000 to put up such a nice memorial? Why couldn't they do it with #1?
The Washington Post published an article about the Senate holding a moment of silence…just before each Democratic Senator took the floor, "one-by-one, to memorialize the dead and criticize the president's Iraq policies." So, I guess that moment of silence wasn't so much about honoring our fallen soldiers than it was an opportunity for Democrats to take another swipe at the President. So much for honor. And that's a bust on The Washington Post as much as Democrats. If you got all your news from the Washington Post you'd think that all the Democrats did was criticize Bush for his policy when in fact members of both parties actually praised troops for their sacrifices.
I urge you all again (or for the first time) to read what retired LTC Ralph Peters had to say about this disgusting attempt to politicize our fallen soldiers. Remember what we're fighting for. I also wrote a post about "numbers" a couple of months ago dealing with this same issue.
It just sickens me to no end that my life is potential political fuel for some guy (or hag) to get another 5 seconds in the spotlight to take another stab at our President and a war they know NOTHING about because service to them is a six-figure paycheck.
Now, here's what Move America Forward had to say about it:
As the news media dedicates wall-to-wall coverage about the death of the 2,000th American in Operation Iraqi Freedom, it is clear that many journalists are opposed to this nation's fight against terrorism. These reporters are so determined to undermine the Bush Administration and the War on Terror that they seem to almost celebrate 'bad' news.
It's sad to see that some Americans find it so easy to criticize the work our troops are doing or say that their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan don't matter or aren't worth the sacrifice. But, that apathy – and America's lack of action against these terrorist organizations – is exactly what allowed for 20 years of increased terrorist attacks by Islamic extremist terrorists that led to the horrific attacks of September 11th, 2001.
We can't give up on the war on terrorism now. We cannot cut and run. It's time somebody stood up and said that.
CJ, I wanted to post about this on my blog but just couldn't find the right words without sounding either cold-hearted or taken as a liberal. You, as usual, have said it eloquently and I will be hat-tipping over to you today. Among the many MSM reports and other blogs I have read on this, is the most truthful and insightful.
Honor is yours!
CJ always has a great perspective on this.
Thanks CJ for the name and face to make the number real.
I don't think many people in our world cares much about the person behind the number. Any number. And that in itself is a tragedy.
Why can't they show a picture and give a name of everyone, each night. Is that so terrible? Why do those lost have to become just another number?
Reactions to the news….
….that 2000 American military have died in Iraq.
1) American vets – thank God so few have died. May their souls rest in peace.
2) American media -
And why not celebrate the fact that thousands of soldiers are still alive in a combat zone? That, to me, has just as much reverence to it for when a soldier dies.
I thank God that they are alive. I'd like to see that in a newspaper.
Yep.
There is a radio station that commented on this yesterday. They said they just heard from the news broadcasts that the 2,000 soldier has died.
Then they said… it is just a number, the 2,000th is just as important as 1- 1,999. Their families are important too, they lost a loved one, their future, ect. What was said was perfect, to not only honor the 2,000th loss but all of them. They didnt want it to make it seem like the rest were not important. Sorry I dont remember all of what was said but it had me in tears.
Then it was silent, and they played Taps, then they played Some Gave All.
That was the only tribute I had heard/seen yesterday that I thought was appropriate. Since they made a big deal about 1-1,999th as well as the 2,000th.