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Theis Park - Kansas City Mo                                        Sunday Oct. 10, 2004

Read the names slowly please:

Spc. Charles E Odums II, 22, Sandusky OH; Spc Brandon S. Tobler, 19,
Portland OR; Staff Sgt Donald C May, 31 Richmond VA; Pfc Francisco A
Martinez Flores, 21, Los Angeles CA; Lance Cpl Michael J. Williams, 36,
Yuma AZ; 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta, 23, Los Angeles CA; Sgt Nicolas M
Hodson, 22, Smithville MO; Raad Kashaash, 21; Salih Gbar Glwb Almoswe 27;
Sareef Bader Thabah, 66, The 29 members of the family of Matag Ali killed in
an aerial bombardment; Aamaed Mustaa Hameed, 7; Zaman Naser Taaresh,
12; Aumar Mahamed Jaasem, 8 mos; Fadeela Zeeg Abdullah, 80. The
names were read on and on throughout the afternoon; the names of the
American casualties interlaced with the some of the names of Iraqi innocents
killed thus far in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Philadelphia, July 2-4

Above: 860 pairs of combat boots line Independence Mall representing the
fallen U.S. soldiers.

Right: 1,000 pairs of shoes lining Independence Mall represent 1/10th of the
10,000 Iraqi civilians killed in the Iraq War thus far.

For Julie and me, it was literally gut wrenching to walk amongst the boots of
our fallen, arranged in military formation. Each pair of boots with a name tag
of our heroes, some had pictures attached or maybe a clipping from their
hometown newspaper or maybe just a simple flower or an American flag
tucked inside. However, today - the number of pairs of combat boots was
1071, an increase from when the above photo was taken. On the placards
showing the number of American casualties - the casualty numbers hang on
nails so they can be changed daily as that count rises.

The true inhumanity of this war hits you, when you look at the 1000 pairs of
shoes. Shoes that were placed with care behind The "Wall of Remembrance".
The "Wall of Remembrance" is placard listing of some 2000 Iraqis; an
incomplete list of the 13,000 to 15,000 Iraqi non-combatants killed since the
beginning of this war. A war ostensibly conducted to free these very people.

" EYES WIDE OPEN: An exhibit on the human cost of the Iraq war" certainly
does bring home the reality of war. This war, like virtually all war produces only
aggressors and victims, no winners and people of different nations hating
each other. War can never be the answer.

People walked through those rows of boots and shoes, some just reading the
names silently, others looking for a particular friend or family member, some
weeping quietly, others staring blankly as they recognize the true meaning of
the display.   Aside from the noise of the traffic passing by the park, there was
virtual silence.   Anguish gave way to tears when those looking for a specific
name found it. Some people just sat in the middle of the display and prayed.

Representing the group, "Military Families Speak Out", Katherine Menges,
U.S. Army Veteran ('84-'94), shared with the listeners that her love of music
had caused her to wonder what music the civilian Iraqi dead had listened to, to
wonder what foods they enjoyed, what holidays they celebrated, to wonder
what sights brought them joy, to wonder what they might have accomplished
had their lives not been cut short by war.

Reverend Johnson spoke at the memorial service. The Reverend has two
sons in the military, one in Iraq and one awaiting his orders to go. Reverend
Johnson pointed out: as we experience our sorrow while viewing the boots of
our soldiers, we must also feel sorrow for the Iraqi people "for they didn't ask
for this war nor do they deserve it". It seems to Julie and me that along with
that sorrow, we should thank the Iraqi innocents for they are dying for us.
They are dying instead of us, because we chose to take our war to their
country.

Peace

Paul and Julie

For those who missed this gathering and wish to have the virtual experience of
"Eyes Wide Open" please go to http://afsc.org/eyes/ . For those in other
cities, like Atlanta, and Tampa, and other large cities; there is a listing of dates
where you might be able to experience this display: those dates and places
may also be found at http://afsc.org/eyes/





				Eyes Wide Open

					Eyes Wide Open An exhibit on the human cost of the Iraq war