Don’t Mention The War: March 13, 2008

Editor’s Note: Even though the media has decided it’s old news and is devoting a paltry amount of coverage to it, we’re still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I find it shocking how little that is referenced or even being discussed in this election cycle. Just because it’s fallen out of the news cycle and reporters and editors point to “war fatigue” in the country, we’re still embroiled in two bloody conflicts. - Ed.

With that in mind, we at Is Greater Than are launching a series of pieces designed to guilt you in to caring about the failed wars you are paying for, (at least my contribution is designed that way). The 24-hour news cycle, racism, news regarding KFC’s Infamous Bowl, the Democratic Party, and your apathy are all to blame, but the most serious offender, as usual, is you. - Matthew Beck

In October, Thomas Friedman wrote an article that I (or someone) should have written 4 years prior. The article, Generation Q, confronts both the political apathy of our generation and our refusal to instigate change. This isn’t meant to imply that we don’t desire change; rather, we have created the illusion that the Internet can somehow serve as a substitute for real, in this case, physical action. This “physical” political action is, of course, the good ol’ fashioned protest. When the war began there were countless exercisers of our right to assemble; cities across the country (and the globe) rallied, protested, marched, and spoke out against the American invasion of Iraq. That was before 4,000 Americans died, before we slaughtered tens of thousands of Iraqis, and most importantly (and depressingly) before the media lost interest. Now? Well that was 4 years ago (4000 in American years). Slaves to the media that we are, if they aren’t talking about it, it must not matter (please click). So I’m (we, at Is Greater Than) talking about it! But we have to do more than talk and start Facebook groups and sign online petitions to nowhere. We need to take it back to the streets; create the enthusiasm that this issue deserves, force the media to cover it. We have a duty as those funding the deaths of our own children not to let this issue die.

An entire generation was defined by their opposition to the Vietnam War; they showed unprecedented amounts of activism. Are we the generation that the History books will cite as apathetic toward unwarranted mass murder? It is unacceptable and a testament to our failure as a movement to see a candidate (McCain) still running on the Iraq War. We can do something, we’ve seen it done before; we owe it to ourselves and our legacy to be the agents of change in the absence of governmental intervention.

If you refuse to step up, you’re condoning this:

These are daily summaries of killings, suicide bombings, etc…in chronological order starting with the 1^st of March, 2008:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ANW122257.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02338817.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L039891.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L04904888.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L05330222.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06610908.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07171570.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08426672.htm

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09338891.htm

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL10849920080310

http://www.reuters.com/article/iraqNews/idUSKAM133678

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAM230698.htm

As this project develops I will be working on proposals for action through various organizations (student, political, religious) to hopefully put this idealism into action. If you have any suggestions please email us at isgreaterthan@gmail.com

Those of you wishing to dismiss my idealism, I’ll introduce you to this guy.