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February 15th, 2003: Little did we know

by Open-Publishing - Friday 3 November 2006

Wars and conflicts International Governments USA Mary MacElveen

February 15th, 2003: Little did we know
By Mary MacElveen

November 3, 2006

On February 15th, 2003, the world came together to tell Bush that we did not support his invasion of Iraq, but little did we know at that time the extent of the damage that would be done. We, who protested this war, never foresaw that over 2,800 U.S. soldiers would be lost to us forever. Never did we foresee that 655,000 innocent Iraqis would be killed. I use that figure of 655,000 based upon the publication Lancet. I choose to believe that figure because this GOP led government has not been honest with all of us prior to this war, the commencement of it and how it continues to this day.

As I was just speaking on the phone with a true patriot whose name is John we both reminisced of that day. The both of us just kept saying, “Little did we know” On that day, John became my true brother and one who has often listened with a compassionate ear when at times I cannot understand man’s inhumanity to man. Even after Katrina hit, it was John that I immediately called.

Honestly, on that all important day, I thought that this impending war would be a brief and yes misplaced response to the attacks that befell this nation on 9/11. I did not foresee it becoming our modern day Viet Nam in which deadly agents such as depleted uranium and white phosphorus would be used. I guess it was the naiveté coming out in me. As I have seen so many images coming out of Iraq in which these deadly agents have been used, they have changed me forever. This war has erased the naiveté in me. I see with eyes wide open instead of shut.

As I go about my daily life and if walking amongst others, I feel like screaming out.

The ones that affect me the most are the images of children who have been killed or ones forever maimed. As I have seen the images of their broken bodies, only tears come. It is hard to put into words how this GOP led government that claims it is pro-life can do that to the most innocent on this Earth. This Tuesday as we go to the polls, we must stand up for these innocent children and hand the GOP a defeat heard round the world.

After getting off the phone with my friend, John, I looked in a cabinet and found two buttons that were handed out on that day to those that made the trek into that protest in New York City. One says “No war for oil” and the other says “The day the world said no to war”. Both buttons brought back the memories of that day.

I remember standing with feet frozen in ice listening to speakers rage out against this impending storm upon the Iraqi people such as Susan Sarandon and Danny Glover. It was an honor to be in their presence as they warned us all and charged us all. On that day, those gathered listening to these speakers we were engaged in the most massive movement in recent history to save lives. Looking back, one cannot understand why we were not listened to. I know all the neo-conservative politics that planned this war, but still one has a hard time understanding why we were not listened to. Come on, not everyone is one of these neo-conservatives, and I do have a hard time understanding how they could follow these people so blindly. I understand that three years ago, we were living in a different world in which patriotic fervor gripped this country, but still aren’t we individuals?

I distinctly remember a few souls that came out in the bitter cold in a selfless act who enjoined all of us. One was a homeless man and the other a woman that suffered from Emphysema. She did so while tethered to a tank of oxygen. For health reasons, she could have stayed away, but she didn’t. The homeless man could have chosen to find a warm place on that day, but he chose not to. I wonder where those two patriots are today. If both are still alive, I wonder what they are thinking at this very minute as Americans are poised to go to the polls on Election Day in which this issue is the single most important issue.

After the protest was over and I found myself sitting in Penn Station waiting for my train back home. As I sat on the floor with my protest sign open for all to read which said “No Blood for Oil” I remember some passing by with a look of arrogance as if saying, “You unpatriotic fool” Now over three years later, I wonder what reaction I would get from these detractors as we have seen so much death and destruction coming out of Iraq. Would they still say that and if so, how can they say that?

It has now been three years since the commencement of this bloody war and lie after lie has been exposed. We have seen the death and destruction coming out of Iraq as well as seen the faces of family members who have lost a loved one in that land of fire and brim stone; will we have learned our lesson come Election Day? I remember writing in a past piece, “But we take no joy out of being right. There is no celebration in being right. There is only extreme sorrow that this could have been avoided to protect innocent lives.

On that note, let us go to the polls come Tuesday and hand the GOP a resounding defeat in which we can hopefully save future lives. They are dependent upon us doing so.

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