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When we watch the news of the war, the fancy
slogans appear: “Target Iraq,” “Iraqi Freedom,” “World Reax,”
“Shock and Awe,” “The Embeds.” In addition to the fancy slogans,
acronyms, and marketing of this war, we are being bombarded by the
technological advances being used to report the war. We are in “Shock
and Awe” of how quickly, and clearly, the news of the war comes home. “The Embeds” are on the front line with the
ability to transmit live pictures during battle. We see the war happen
through reporting on a second-by-second, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour
basis. The technological marvel of the reporting the war makes war feel
like a video game. The technology, the fancy acronyms and the slick
marketing, makes it all seem unreal. For many family members, the news media’s
ability to report instant war news gives the family comfort--if they can
hear, or see, a glimpse of their loved one. For others, however, the
news of injury or death is instantaneous, bringing home the reality of
war-- on a second-by-second, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, and
day-by-day basis. The loss of human life is the ultimate cost of
war. We must remind ourselves that this is not a video game; it is a
real war. We must remind ourselves of the cost of war. This war is not “Shock and Awe”; it is not
about “The Embeds,” “Iraqi Freedom,” or “World Reax.” It is
not about technology, acronyms, or slick marketing. It is about human
lives, sacrifice, and suffering. While the war rages on, we must look past the
slick marketing of the war. We should think about the 19-year-old
men and women who make up part of our military, the leaders of our
military, and all soldiers who place their lives on the line. We should
respect them, leaving behind the acronyms of the day, forgetting about
the “slick slogans.” We must remember the cost of war, we must
remember this war is real, not a slickly packaged video game. Any combat veteran will tell you-"war is
hell.” Let us all band together, let us all hope that this war ends
soon-for the sake of our country, for the sake of this planet, and for
the sake of those on the front line... and their loved ones here at home. Stuart F. James
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