An exhibition of Iraq war

An exhibit that speaks directly to our hearts and reminds us of the human
cost of war.

by Mary Ellen McNish

Over 1,000 pairs of empty combat boots tagged with the names of U.S. soldiers
who died in the Iraq war ­ will be
displayed, together with a 24-foot “wall” of names and incidents identifying
Iraqi civilian deaths.

The Eyes Wide Open exhibition is a multimedia journey through the words, images,
and sounds of the Iraq war. Visitors move through a vivid memorial to the war’s
soldier and civilian victims, a searing exposure of the statements told to the
U.S. public to justify the war, a compelling outline of what the war is costing
us at home, and finally to an interactive, easy way to contribute their voices
to changing our country’s course toward peace.

Since 1917, the American Friends Service Committee has championed the dignity and worth of every individual, the sanctity of human life and humanity’s collective responsibility to promote peace. For almost 90 years of work in war zones on four continents, we have gained an intimate knowledge of the costs and horrors of war.

When this exhibit was unveiled by our Chicago office in January 2004, there were 504 pairs of boots symbolizing the lost lives of U.S. soldiers in Iraq. With each passing week, each stop in a new city, more pairs of boots are added to represent the newly fallen. Alongside the boots stands a wall of remembrance with the names of the more than 11,000 Iraqi civilians who have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion.

As the exhibit makes its appearances across the country, families and friends come to grieve for lost loved ones and strangers honor those who gave their lives to a cause far from home.

At each stop, person after person leaves notes of commemoration, photographs of lost soldiers, identification tags, flowers, and American flags to accompany the boots on their journey.

Although a majority of Americans now believe this war is a tragic misadventure, the human cost of the Iraq War grows every day. How many more boots will be standing at silent attention before this war ends, before Iraqis and American soldiers are out of harm’s way?

This traveling exhibit is a memorial to those who have fallen and a witness to our belief that no war can justify its human cost.

Mary Ellen McNish,
General Secretary, AFSC

TAMPA EXHIBITION DATE

Saturday, October 30th ­ 11am until 5pm
University of South Florida ­ Tampa Campus
Marshall Center Room #101 and the
Martin Luther King Plaza

http://afsc.org/eyes/about-the-exhibit.htm