A sad milestone coincided with the passing of a new year. Yesterday, the number killed in Iraq passed 3,000. There are many times when a number is a just a number, devoid of context and meaning. Then again, the number I always knew grew up knowing was 57,000–the generally accepted number killed in Vietnam.
Last night in Davis, the number 3,000 came alive in ways I never thought possible. Standing there, watching the park filled with 3,000 lights–paper bags filled with candles–was awe inspiring.
In Central Park, “Youth for Hope” put on a peace vigil that put it all into perspective for a lot of people in Davis. And for a few moments that number 3,000 came alive. As we enjoy our New Year we should all pause and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice given by so many young people for a cause and a war that seems so wrong to so many of us.
As impressive this event was put on by 15 and 16 year old high school students. Students who heard the call a month ago by watching the documentary “The Ground Truth,” about American soldiers. During a time when so many young people are disparaged as selfish or self-absorbed, these young people gave up their vacation to make a strong and profound political statement. It was a powerful moment in Davis last night, unfortunately, too few broke from their holiday routine to attend.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
Sorry to have missed this… THIS is what Davis is all about….My family and I would have been there in a heartbeat if we had known about this “happening”. I wish that People’s Vanguard had given us a “heads-up”…or did I miss it?…. maybe next time.
Sorry to have missed this… THIS is what Davis is all about….My family and I would have been there in a heartbeat if we had known about this “happening”. I wish that People’s Vanguard had given us a “heads-up”…or did I miss it?…. maybe next time.
Sorry to have missed this… THIS is what Davis is all about….My family and I would have been there in a heartbeat if we had known about this “happening”. I wish that People’s Vanguard had given us a “heads-up”…or did I miss it?…. maybe next time.
Sorry to have missed this… THIS is what Davis is all about….My family and I would have been there in a heartbeat if we had known about this “happening”. I wish that People’s Vanguard had given us a “heads-up”…or did I miss it?…. maybe next time.
To those remarkable HS students, someone should spread the word to them that People’s Vanguard of Davis is THEIR “voice” also.
To those remarkable HS students, someone should spread the word to them that People’s Vanguard of Davis is THEIR “voice” also.
To those remarkable HS students, someone should spread the word to them that People’s Vanguard of Davis is THEIR “voice” also.
To those remarkable HS students, someone should spread the word to them that People’s Vanguard of Davis is THEIR “voice” also.
They had a front page article in the Davis Enterprise yesterday. It was almost accidental that I was there and I took a picture with my cell camera.
They had a front page article in the Davis Enterprise yesterday. It was almost accidental that I was there and I took a picture with my cell camera.
They had a front page article in the Davis Enterprise yesterday. It was almost accidental that I was there and I took a picture with my cell camera.
They had a front page article in the Davis Enterprise yesterday. It was almost accidental that I was there and I took a picture with my cell camera.
As we pause to think about the sacrifice, we should consider the growing magnitude of our losses-
The 23,000 injured U.S. soldiers, many maimed for life
The 60,000 Iraqi civilians killed in military conflict and hundreds of thousands more killed indirectly as a result of the conflict.
Lost worldwide respect as a result of ignoring the rest of the world and going in alone. As a result, missing an opportunity to build a strong worldwide coalition against terrorism.
Wasted dollars – $355 billion.
Lowering our moral standards as a result of the way we have treated prisoners.
The guy responsible for 9/11 is still sitting on a rock laughing at us.
Worst of all, the goal was to reduce terrorism and make the world safer, the outcome has been the opposite.SAH
As we pause to think about the sacrifice, we should consider the growing magnitude of our losses-
The 23,000 injured U.S. soldiers, many maimed for life
The 60,000 Iraqi civilians killed in military conflict and hundreds of thousands more killed indirectly as a result of the conflict.
Lost worldwide respect as a result of ignoring the rest of the world and going in alone. As a result, missing an opportunity to build a strong worldwide coalition against terrorism.
Wasted dollars – $355 billion.
Lowering our moral standards as a result of the way we have treated prisoners.
The guy responsible for 9/11 is still sitting on a rock laughing at us.
Worst of all, the goal was to reduce terrorism and make the world safer, the outcome has been the opposite.SAH
As we pause to think about the sacrifice, we should consider the growing magnitude of our losses-
The 23,000 injured U.S. soldiers, many maimed for life
The 60,000 Iraqi civilians killed in military conflict and hundreds of thousands more killed indirectly as a result of the conflict.
Lost worldwide respect as a result of ignoring the rest of the world and going in alone. As a result, missing an opportunity to build a strong worldwide coalition against terrorism.
Wasted dollars – $355 billion.
Lowering our moral standards as a result of the way we have treated prisoners.
The guy responsible for 9/11 is still sitting on a rock laughing at us.
Worst of all, the goal was to reduce terrorism and make the world safer, the outcome has been the opposite.SAH
As we pause to think about the sacrifice, we should consider the growing magnitude of our losses-
The 23,000 injured U.S. soldiers, many maimed for life
The 60,000 Iraqi civilians killed in military conflict and hundreds of thousands more killed indirectly as a result of the conflict.
Lost worldwide respect as a result of ignoring the rest of the world and going in alone. As a result, missing an opportunity to build a strong worldwide coalition against terrorism.
Wasted dollars – $355 billion.
Lowering our moral standards as a result of the way we have treated prisoners.
The guy responsible for 9/11 is still sitting on a rock laughing at us.
Worst of all, the goal was to reduce terrorism and make the world safer, the outcome has been the opposite.SAH
I didn’t know about the vigil and saw it as I drove by the park. It gave me goose bumps and I found myself having to hold back some tears when I thought of how many dedicated men and women have lost their lives in such a senseless war.
I parked my vehicle, got out of the car to get a better view…and thought to myself…we need to do what we can before the number doubles and we reach the point where Central Park is too small to hold the number of candles representing the number of soldiers who have died in the war.
Thank you for writing about this.
I didn’t know about the vigil and saw it as I drove by the park. It gave me goose bumps and I found myself having to hold back some tears when I thought of how many dedicated men and women have lost their lives in such a senseless war.
I parked my vehicle, got out of the car to get a better view…and thought to myself…we need to do what we can before the number doubles and we reach the point where Central Park is too small to hold the number of candles representing the number of soldiers who have died in the war.
Thank you for writing about this.
I didn’t know about the vigil and saw it as I drove by the park. It gave me goose bumps and I found myself having to hold back some tears when I thought of how many dedicated men and women have lost their lives in such a senseless war.
I parked my vehicle, got out of the car to get a better view…and thought to myself…we need to do what we can before the number doubles and we reach the point where Central Park is too small to hold the number of candles representing the number of soldiers who have died in the war.
Thank you for writing about this.
I didn’t know about the vigil and saw it as I drove by the park. It gave me goose bumps and I found myself having to hold back some tears when I thought of how many dedicated men and women have lost their lives in such a senseless war.
I parked my vehicle, got out of the car to get a better view…and thought to myself…we need to do what we can before the number doubles and we reach the point where Central Park is too small to hold the number of candles representing the number of soldiers who have died in the war.
Thank you for writing about this.
For those of you in my generation, you’ll be familiar with the lyrics to this song from U2, I find them very apropo
All is quiet on New Year’s Day, A world in white gets underway… Nothing changes on New Year’s Day
For those of you in my generation, you’ll be familiar with the lyrics to this song from U2, I find them very apropo
All is quiet on New Year’s Day, A world in white gets underway… Nothing changes on New Year’s Day
For those of you in my generation, you’ll be familiar with the lyrics to this song from U2, I find them very apropo
All is quiet on New Year’s Day, A world in white gets underway… Nothing changes on New Year’s Day
For those of you in my generation, you’ll be familiar with the lyrics to this song from U2, I find them very apropo
All is quiet on New Year’s Day, A world in white gets underway… Nothing changes on New Year’s Day
i put up a heads-up yesterday, but wasn’t able to make it because of fussy baby issues. i’m glad you see you covered it here, doug.
also good to see that the kids, as always, are all right.
i put up a heads-up yesterday, but wasn’t able to make it because of fussy baby issues. i’m glad you see you covered it here, doug.
also good to see that the kids, as always, are all right.
i put up a heads-up yesterday, but wasn’t able to make it because of fussy baby issues. i’m glad you see you covered it here, doug.
also good to see that the kids, as always, are all right.
i put up a heads-up yesterday, but wasn’t able to make it because of fussy baby issues. i’m glad you see you covered it here, doug.
also good to see that the kids, as always, are all right.
There are good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information:
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armaments”
http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/odyssey-of-armaments.html
The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment, budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Administrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.
How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the new Sec. Def.Mr. Gates, understand such complexity, particularly if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?
Answer- he can’t. Therefore he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.
From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.
This situation is unfortunate but it is absolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.
This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen until it hits a brick wall at high speed.
We will then have to run a Volkswagen instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.
There are good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information:
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armaments”
http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/odyssey-of-armaments.html
The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment, budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Administrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.
How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the new Sec. Def.Mr. Gates, understand such complexity, particularly if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?
Answer- he can’t. Therefore he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.
From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.
This situation is unfortunate but it is absolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.
This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen until it hits a brick wall at high speed.
We will then have to run a Volkswagen instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.
There are good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information:
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armaments”
http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/odyssey-of-armaments.html
The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment, budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Administrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.
How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the new Sec. Def.Mr. Gates, understand such complexity, particularly if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?
Answer- he can’t. Therefore he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.
From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.
This situation is unfortunate but it is absolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.
This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen until it hits a brick wall at high speed.
We will then have to run a Volkswagen instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.
There are good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information:
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armaments”
http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/odyssey-of-armaments.html
The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment, budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Administrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.
How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the new Sec. Def.Mr. Gates, understand such complexity, particularly if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?
Answer- he can’t. Therefore he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.
From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.
This situation is unfortunate but it is absolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.
This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen until it hits a brick wall at high speed.
We will then have to run a Volkswagen instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.
Worth a read if people are interested from our friend Wu Ming:
Surf Putah
Worth a read if people are interested from our friend Wu Ming:
Surf Putah
Worth a read if people are interested from our friend Wu Ming:
Surf Putah
Worth a read if people are interested from our friend Wu Ming:
Surf Putah