Stars & Stripes letter: The Horror of Virginia Tech and Iraq

[lebkuchen]

Stripes posted yesterday's letters twice,

http://www.estripes.com/section.asp?section=125

so I don't have the URL to the following letter, published in today's paper, as it's not yet posted online. Therefore, I've typed it in case editors don't correct the error. This one is too good to lose. It's short and to the point, written by an army doctor stationed at Baghdad International Airport.

The horror of VT and Iraq

This morning I learned that at least 32 bright young Americans were killed in what is supposed to be a place of safety, study, and coming of age ("Campus shocked and horrified at attack," article, April 17).

I believe I join nearly all Americans in feeling shocked and troubled that such a thing could happen at one of our universities. Unlike most Americans, though, I heard about this tragedy from a television in a dining facility in Baghdad, where I am stationed as an Army doctor for a unit from Fort Drum, N.Y.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who were killed Monday in Virginia. I join other Americans in being greatly affected by the loss of so many young people for no reason at all, and I applaud, for once, the expansive news coverage of this tragedy.

I ask Americans, though, to remember the horror they feel today at this event, because it is what they should feel every time they hear or read about yet another group of young soldiers killed in Iraq. Although wartime death does not have the same shock value -- we are told to "expect" some losses -- it in no way changes the value of a life. The bright young men and women serving their country overseas should have their lives valued no less than those who stay at home to study.

Remember this, and ask political leaders to remember it. Hold them accountable for war. If, as a nation, we truly recalled the value of a life, then we would be more discriminating when it comes to choosing where to start a fight. The loss of young American lives at Virginia Tech has occurred one hundredfold to young volunteer American military in Iraq. When will this country and its leaders learn that war must always be a very last resort?

Dr. (Maj.) Dimitri Cassimatis
Baghdad International Airport

[babylonsister]

1. Great letter; thanks. nt

[lebkuchen]

2. The URL came up in today's (Friday's) group of letters

so I will add it for possible future reference.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=45232

[badgerpup]

3. K & R!!

Thanks for posting this!
A lot of folks are thinking the same thing...:cry:

but apparently not in the places where it matters. :grr:





:kick:

[thinkbridge]

4. extremely important point

I wish everyone would read this and take it to heart. Maybe we could make the government stop this Armageddonist rampage, all based on false premises. And remember, the cost of war is more than this one horrific tragedy. Yet no one feels it, because it is not on our turf. Feel it or not, we are responsible and cannot let them get away with murder.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi thinkbridge!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: