Memorial Day

I just finished watching Baghdad ER, a graphic, disturbing look at the realities and horrors of the casualties of war from the perspective of the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Iraq.. I'm not talking about casualties in the sense of when they count the lives that have been lost - I am talking about the 17,000+ soldiers that have been injured as a result of this "conflict," "war," "police action," whatever Bush is calling it these days..

I'm glad HBO showed it - and then re-showed it on Memorial Day..

*This* is what memorial day is supposed to be about: reflection.. How can we really reflect on something if we don't really understand the sacrifice, the pain, the anger and the blood that is shed for a "senseless conflict" (as quoted every single time the Chaplain recited the last rites for every soldier that died in the care of the 86th medical squadron..)

How can anyone wantonly throw their support for this war when they don't see it.. The Bush administration continues to block any attempt at showing images of the coffins coming back from Iraq - and if it's his position to maintain respect for those who died, then he's not doing enough to make this country aware of the horrors that are happening in Iraq and around the world..

We live in a society that is heavily buffered with "fluffy news," and we totally don't get to see the reality of it..

The documentary was a compilation of story after story of how each soldier came into the care of the 86th.. Every man and woman has a story to tell, the soldier who had his wedding ring removed before his fingers were amputated.. There was the man who suffered a small gunshot wound - who died after a valiant effort to get him in surgery and operated on.. The was the guy who suffered an I.E.D. attack merely by getting some food.. The guy that died a day after his 21st birthday.. The guy who lost his thumb who was trying to save money, pay bills so that he could build his family a house..

So why does the Bush administration want you not to see these stories?? Is it because they undermine the war effort?? When you have the soldiers coming out and saying "what in the hell" shouldn't that be the first clue here?? I deplore Bush's "we've got to stay the course" broken record diatribe.. It's sick watching this program knowing full and well that Bush has absolutely no idea what sacrifice is..

Bush should be made to watch this documentary and then personally contact everyone of those 17,000 soldiers and listen to them, talk to them.. Because these are the souls that he has personally placed into harms way.. When he conveniently disconnects himself like he has, then that's not what you want from your leader..

I strongly recommend everyone watch the program.. It's hard, but it's real.. And we all need a little bit of reality if we're going to understand what Memorial Day is really about..

Kudos HBO!!