Eyes Wide Open Exhibition [View All]

[AngryOldDem]

Tonight I went to a candlelight vigil at the Eyes Wide Open exhibition on the Iraq war, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, among other peace groups and religious organizations. On display on the lawn of the church were 966-plus combat and dress boots, a pair for every soldier killed since hostilities began. On another part of the lawn, about eight or ten rows deep, were pairs of civilian shoes -- men's, women's and children's -- representing Iraqi civilians who have been killed.

After walking through row after row of boots, touching them and reading the stories of how the soldier to whom they belonged died, I felt emotionally drained. The enormity of the both the losses and the senselessness of this overwhelm me. They are planning to read the names of each and every victim of this war during the course of the night.

I had the privlege of talking to a Vietnam-era vet who is one of the volunteers who will keep watch over the boots tonight, as he did last night. He was lamenting the apathy that is so apparent among a lot of late teens and early twentysomethings. He also said that twice early this morning he had to deal with people who wanted to argue, as they stood amid the boots of dead soldiers. One man called this vet a "terrorist" for taking part in this exhibit, having this display; another said it was "nothing more than pieces of leather on the ground" and that the proper tribute to these fallen were to be "on granite."

The crowd tonight was pretty sparse. As I left, I overheard one woman say, "You know, we just ought to pile people in the car and tell them we're going for a ride. And bring them here."

I don't know if most of America is really apathetic, or just in a strong state of denial.

If this exhibit comes anywhere near where you live, I recommend you visit it.