What more is there to say?

As U.S. war in Iraq enters 5th year, not much

MELISSA HIEBERT STAFF

ILLUSTRATION BY ELYSSA STELMAN

The sun may have been shining brightly as 200 or so protesters dutifully congregated in front of the legislative building last Saturday, but the overall ambiance of the demonstration was languid, weary, and bleak. March 17 marked the four-year anniversary of the war in Iraq, which commenced in 2003. Since then, not a lot has changed except for the death toll.

The march was held in solidarity with similar protests being held all over the world, including the thousands of people who flocked to the pentagon in Washington to show their continued contempt for the illegal military occupation of Iraq and the refusal of the U.S. government to withdraw American troops.

However, something was strangely and subtly lacking from this particular protest. All the elements were there: the anti-war signage, the trite chants, and numerous drive-by honks of support. One crucial element, though, was missing: passion. Whereas protesters and anti-war activists once took to the streets with verve and enthusiasm, crying out for the injustice and the violence to be put to an end, this time each step was trod with a little less confidence, and a little more caution.

I could see it in their eyes; every face in attendance was beset with some level of uncertainty. As the protesters marched defiantly down Broadway, one unanswered question seemed to weigh heavily on their minds: at this stage in the game, is there anything more that can be done? Many people

It’s all been said and done, and America has become tired: tired of statistics, tired of numbers, tired of gruesome images on TV, tired of being lied to, tired of trying and tired of being ignored. Our once feverish outrage has become blunted by governmental indifference, and has been replaced with a tinge of apologetic apathy.

would devotedly answer yes, but I’m not sure that a single one of them actually believes their own words.

In truth, there’s not much more to be said that hasn’t been said before. Should we reiterate that the Canadian government spent $14.7 billion on military funding in 2006 alone? Should we repeat that over 3,000 American troops have died in combat since the war began in 2003? Should we mention that there have been around 60,000 Iraqi civilian casualties in the past four years, all of them who have lost their lives in the name of oil?

It’s all been said and done, and America has become tired: tired of statistics, tired of numbers, tired of gruesome images on TV, tired of being lied to, tired of trying and tired of being ignored. Our once-feverish outrage has become blunted by governmental indifference, and has been replaced with a tinge of apologetic apathy.

With each protest we hold, with every step we march, with every single tear we shed, we become exhausted, and the Bush administration still won’t budge an inch. Overwhelmed with hopelessness, we have become engulfed in a pacifistic stupor, waiting for that fateful day in 2008 when Bush must finally step down, and with any bit of luck we can put this nonsense behind us. Until then, we wait, watch, and hope.

War, though, waits for no one. To us, the war in Iraq may have turned into a waiting game, but those who are in the line of fire do not have this luxury. With every convoy bombing, with every kidnapping, with every innocent Iraqi casualty, with any act of secular violence, with every fallen soldier, with every missile, bomb, or bullet barrage, there is a person. Every single day, someone dies because of this continued ignorance, this inane occupation. The war in Iraq may have become something of a political stalemate, but for thousands and thousands of innocent men, women and children, it’s game over.

There is always something left to be said. As long as people keep dying, there will always be a new story to tell — and each one is just as important and valuable as the last. To sit back and wait for the war to be over is to sit back and watch people die. We must maintain our enthusiasm and our love for our fellow human beings as much as we did in day one. Most importantly of all, we have to keep working so that we will not have to gather to protest another anniversary of the war’s beginning, but instead be able to gather to celebrate the war’s end.

Melissa Herbert is the Manitoban’s culture editor.





Volume 94 Issue 25	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	March 21, 2007

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly What more is there to say? As U.S. war in Iraq enters 5th year, not much MELISSA HIEBERT STAFF ILLUSTRATION BY ELYSSA STELMAN The sun may have been shining brightly as 200 or so protesters dutifully congregated in front of the legislative building last Saturday, but the overall ambiance of the demonstration was languid, weary, and bleak. March 17 marked the four-year anniversary of the war in Iraq, which commenced in 2003. Since then, not a lot has changed except for the death toll. The march was held in solidarity with similar protests being held all over the world, including the thousands of people who flocked to the pentagon in Washington to show their continued contempt for the illegal military occupation of Iraq and the refusal of the U.S. government to withdraw American troops. However, something was strangely and subtly lacking from this particular protest. All the elements were there: the anti-war signage, the trite chants, and numerous drive-by honks of support. One crucial element, though, was missing: passion. Whereas protesters and anti-war activists once took to the streets with verve and enthusiasm, crying out for the injustice and the violence to be put to an end, this time each step was trod with a little less confidence, and a little more caution. I could see it in their eyes; every face in attendance was beset with some level of uncertainty. As the protesters marched defiantly down Broadway, one unanswered question seemed to weigh heavily on their minds: at this stage in the game, is there anything more that can be done? Many people It’s all been said and done, and America has become tired: tired of statistics, tired of numbers, tired of gruesome images on TV, tired of being lied to, tired of trying and tired of being ignored. Our once feverish outrage has become blunted by governmental indifference, and has been replaced with a tinge of apologetic apathy. would devotedly answer yes, but I’m not sure that a single one of them actually believes their own words. In truth, there’s not much more to be said that hasn’t been said before. Should we reiterate that the Canadian government spent $14.7 billion on military funding in 2006 alone? Should we repeat that over 3,000 American troops have died in combat since the war began in 2003? Should we mention that there have been around 60,000 Iraqi civilian casualties in the past four years, all of them who have lost their lives in the name of oil? It’s all been said and done, and America has become tired: tired of statistics, tired of numbers, tired of gruesome images on TV, tired of being lied to, tired of trying and tired of being ignored. Our once-feverish outrage has become blunted by governmental indifference, and has been replaced with a tinge of apologetic apathy. With each protest we hold, with every step we march, with every single tear we shed, we become exhausted, and the Bush administration still won’t budge an inch. Overwhelmed with hopelessness, we have become engulfed in a pacifistic stupor, waiting for that fateful day in 2008 when Bush must finally step down, and with any bit of luck we can put this nonsense behind us. Until then, we wait, watch, and hope. War, though, waits for no one. To us, the war in Iraq may have turned into a waiting game, but those who are in the line of fire do not have this luxury. With every convoy bombing, with every kidnapping, with every innocent Iraqi casualty, with any act of secular violence, with every fallen soldier, with every missile, bomb, or bullet barrage, there is a person. Every single day, someone dies because of this continued ignorance, this inane occupation. The war in Iraq may have become something of a political stalemate, but for thousands and thousands of innocent men, women and children, it’s game over. There is always something left to be said. As long as people keep dying, there will always be a new story to tell — and each one is just as important and valuable as the last. To sit back and wait for the war to be over is to sit back and watch people die. We must maintain our enthusiasm and our love for our fellow human beings as much as we did in day one. Most importantly of all, we have to keep working so that we will not have to gather to protest another anniversary of the war’s beginning, but instead be able to gather to celebrate the war’s end. Melissa Herbert is the Manitoban’s culture editor.


Terms of Use \| Member of the CUP \| RSS Newsfeeds © Copyright 2006 The Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation