In high school, we learn about the Civil War, American Revolution, and the two World Wars. We know the battles of Little Big Horn, Bull Run, and The Marne. We know the exact dates of Pearl Harbor and the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For our current war in Iraq, you are lucky to find a person who can name the day of the invasion. Good luck discovering a person who can tell you any other milestones in the war.
When we learn about the Civil War, it feels as if the battles happened in everyone’s backyards. The military personnel would march through the streets in full view of the population on their way to the next battle. We see none of this in this far-off Middle Eastern war. All of the battles, and all of the transferring of troops, are done overseas, far away from our eyes. Out of sight, out of mind.
During World War I, the women of a city would all gather together in town square to hear the names of all the men killed during the most recent battle. This type of information rarely came, and when it did everyone in the area would gather together. In our digitalized world, we see headlines such as “3 Soldiers Shot Dead” on our Yahoo pages every morning. When we see this, we think “Oh, only three men were killed? That’s not much at all!” regardless of if we see similar headlines every day. We do not see the long lists of soldiers killed in action, and so it does not seem that an excessive number of lives are lost.
Along the same lines, we become desensitized to these frequent headlines. For example, today I saw the headline “Bomb Kills 13 in Baghdad.” Our eyes easily transition from this headline to the next, without so much as a second thought. We do not click on the headline “Violent Blast Kills 10”, but instead select the much more interesting “Paris Hilton Fashion Mistakes” or “Dumped Bachelor Contestant Speaks Out”. We Americans obviously have our priorities straightened out.
In reality, there IS a war occurring overseas. Do not forget this. There are men and women who are dying to support our country. I don’t care whether or not you agree with the war itself; this is not a reason to forget about those who are fighting it. It is completely possible to support the troops without supporting the war they are fighting. Stop reading your articles about who got voted off American Idol last night, and instead read something that actually matters in this world.
Do you find yourself forgetting that there is a war going on?
**edit**
Beyond just educating oneself about the goings-on overseas... you can help as well. www.anysoldier.com is a website I have known of for a few years. Soldiers post things that their troops need (shampoo, soap, snacks, deodorant, etc.) and you can send a package to them to help out. Please check this site out, these are very basic items that will only cost you a few dollars, but they mean the world to the people overseas.
Comments (112)
I totally agree with you.
After reading this I just realized how, compared to all the other wars we learn about in school, this one feels completely unreal.
I agree. I hate how sometimes on the news they just say "3 killed by roadside bomb" they don't give names until a few days later and its lame.
Agreed. I wish the media coverage would be more like the war in Vietnam...reporters were all over the place, amidst the action, willing to do anything for a story that mattered, and would hopefully change the world.
@Mandiful2007 - Because the information comes in so quickly, they can't give the names out, because they must identify the bodies and notify the families first. This is called a courtesy.
Never, I never forget the war. It is in the forefront of my mind... at all times.
Yeah. Always. My midterms tend to take precedence.
I'm am completely guilty of this. I have just become so desensitized. But I'll try to make an effort. Thank you.
well i think they should switch how soon they give out the information... maybe identify the bodys, tell the families first and then put the whole story on the news along with a tribute or something nice to show respect. you know?? its just seeming a bit backwards.
@Mandiful2007 - It is backwards, but we live in a very technologically advanced society; reporters are all over the place over there, and as soon as they hear that soldiers have been killed, they're writing up a story and sending it off to the press. There's no rule that they can't, so that's what happens.
Major props for taking the time to say what some of us are too embarrassed to point out. I am guilty of forgetting sometimes that there are people over there fighting, but one of my friends recently joined the airforce. x.X I swear to God, if they make him go over there, I'll die. He finally got up the nerve to ask me out, and I said yes. It's given me more of an inside perspective on the people that have to say goodbye, and hope that they get to say hello again. Thank you very, very much for writing this.
@AirForceVirgin - I don't like putting words in anyone's mouth but I think she is referring to the Bush administration's policy of not allowing the returning caskets from Iraq to be filmed or photographed. President Obama has lifted that ban just recently.
I'm guilty of this sometimes... or I used to be. My brother joined the service fairly recently, so the war now has a much more prominent place in my mind. I'm sort of embarrassed that it took a deeply personal connection to make me so aware.
With the war in Afghanistan, there isn't much to read other than number of soldiers from Iraq being shuffled to Afghanistan. There isn't much coverage.
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Thank you for writing this. They're on my mind always.
That's something kinda hard for me to forget about, but I know a lot of people do forget and don't even care.
@godfatherofgreenbay - Hmm, I guess, but re-reading her comments it just looks like she wants them to supply names when they mention that three soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing; she mentioned nothing about seeing or not seeing caskets on television.
My boyfriends a marine. I have a daily reminder of the war and all it has done.
Thank you for this post. Many people forget and its very hard for these men and women to come back home after being there. It's a constant struggle.
You know to be completely honest I don`t think about the war that much. I know it`s there & I don`t forget it. I do not agree with it, but I still support the troops, nonetheless.
no, and it bothers me that people care about paris hilton.
Thank you for this post. The war is on my mind, and I hope it ends soon.
What're you doing to support the troops? I don't really disagree with what you're saying, just seemed a little high handed. I don't think reading the news benefits the troops if you don't break down and send them money or whatever is even possible to do in support of the troops.
@Mad_Ass_Hatter - I think reading the news is better than nothing. At least CARE about what these people are doing, and read what's happening.
If you're asking what I specifically do, there's a website, www.anysoldier.com, soldiers post the things they need and you can send out packages to them. It's amazing.
I disagree with you 100%. It is up to the individual to educate his or herself. You can't spend 5 minutes to look up the facts about the Iraq conflict?
You cannot depend on the government or society to do everything for you. This is childish. We the people bear the responsibility of accounting for our actions. That means that individuals must embrace what is right, not groups of people being commanded blindly.
@awwwwwwberry - I don't really think caring, but not doing anything means too much to people over there. I do think that you linking to a site that could possibly benefit the soldiers is infinitely more in the right direction then any amount of 'carebear stares' would be.