Wednesday, October 26, 2005 | By: Unknown

Reading names in the darkness

A group of people who didn't know each other held a candlelight vigil tonite in this redneck, po-dunk town I call home. When I went to the website last nite only 10 people had signed up to participate. This morning it was up to 25 and by the time I left to attend there were 33 participants.

We ended up with 35-50 strangers participating. That's fucking awesome here in bakersfrigginfield. I contacted the local branches of all four networks this morning, and they all showed up but one. Our vigil was the lead story on 3 of the 4 networks.

I started off the reading thanks to the co-ordinator, Carla. Her and I agreed on reading all the names, it took a bit over two hours. I got to read the 212 names from my state of California. The San Joaquin Valley has lost as many young men and women as LA..I didnt know that till tonight.

We had families and people whos ages were from 13 to 73 there. All with a common goal. The vast majority not knowing the person they were standing next to.

It was somber and moving.

I do NOT want to read another 2000 names. I want the war to end. I do not want to go through another decade of protest and raising awareness in my neighbors. But I will if I have to.

8 people gave us their .02 cents:

FantasticAlice said...

Wow, yeah, I had heard about that last night! 2,000. Granted, it isn't like some of the other wars where we had tens of thousands killed (or Vietnam where the government never considered it a war). but 2,000 troops! It is an unseemly number when Bush has tried to convince us all that the war is "over" and now we are helping the Iraqi people become democratic.

I personally believe that when a soldier from our state dies that we should fly our flad at half mast for the day or week. At least announce the name of the soldier, a memorial, something. But the press isn't giving out these names here anymore... they just give out numbers.

The soldier are defending us, our country, our way of life. If you don't believe in the war support our troops! I am aghast at the notion that soldiers are numbers now and no longer a name.

Disgusting.

Unknown said...

Bush refuses to allow pictures of the returning caskets. Why? We know wny..

It took four years to total 2000 soldiers deaths in Vietnam Alice..this "war" has been going on half that time. The injured is more than doubled as well.There is also over 100,000 Iraqi civilian deaths to go with our total..They lose hundreds a week at times.

FantasticAlice said...

Personally, I say pull all of our troops and let them sort it out.

Granted I could be mistaken but didn't they just have the election, and don't they have a "power structure" of some kind now?

Or has Bush not been able to manipulate their officials they way he wants them yet so we stay and suffer?

John Q. Public esq. said...

Glad you stood up for whats right! You make me proud!

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill said...

Thanks for stopping by Dusty, your comments much appreciated. As I'm sure you know the final casualty total for Vietnam was 211,471 US troops.

Hope to God Iraq version 2.0 doesn't reach such heights of loss.

daisyduke said...

I hate to be the stick in the mud here, but where's your effin' HNT pic???

Unknown said...

LMAO daisy..shit I forgot its HNT..i will shortly..i promise

Linda Jones Malonson said...

You did a wonderful thing Dusty, and by all means tell me the media that didn't show up so I can send them an email, asking why?

I am with you, I want the war to end. I also want all of the paid politicians, including the Bush Mafia's cabinets to go over there and fight on the front line .. as it stand, it looks like none of this will happen anytime soon, but I can hope.

By the way, I am so very proud of you .. much love.

Amias