The Awful Sound of Silence

[Echo In Light]

The Awful Sound of Silence
by Steve Carlson

" And no one dared disturb the sound of silence. " Paul Simon

While I suppose one could argue that it's too early to start identifying the most under-reported story of the 21st century to date, I should think that the actual death and human suffering toll in Iraq might top the list of almost any discerning journalist, academic, policymaker, or for that matter, peacemaker. The fact that the scale and scope of the tragedy has been successfully obscured, so far, is in itself quite a story, though perhaps one with an ending that may leave our collective sense of fundamental goodness more than a bit shaken.

How is it that we in America haven't considered this question seriously? I understand we're in the throes of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. I understand we're shedding jobs at an alarming rate. I get it that hundreds of thousands of people, maybe millions, are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. No one disputes that these are tough times for a great many people in this country.

But what are the people of Iraq facing? What must it be like to be a survivor of the Iraqi War? Let's start with what's been reported so far.

The website Iraq Body Count has cross documented the violent deaths of between 90,000 to 100,000 Iraqi civilians since the 2003 American led invasion and occupation. Most experts agree that this number is, in all probability, significantly below the actual death toll.

A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins estimated that as of July, 2006, the death toll had exceeded 600,000 people.

A September 2007 study by the prestigious British polling firm Opinion Research Business, put the death toll at 1.2 million Iraqis.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/23-3

[Fumesucker]

1. Eh, according to *some* people..

The most under reported story of the twenty first century is Obama's birth certificate.

:eyes:

[BeFree]

2. Well

There will be hell to pay. The torture of a few hundred pales in comparison.

And then there is Afghanistan. How can anyone feel at peace with such carnage running rampant? How do some of you do it? What is your secret? Do you just ignore it?

[shadowknows69]

3. Xanax and a soul that's broken to the point of numbness.

[BeFree]

5. Or

Just chatter about false idols? Seems to be the majority opinion.

Broken souls are a reality, eh? Brother, can ya spare a blue pill?

[Berry Cool]

8. You're assuming people feel at peace about it

just because they don't say anything you hear, or express their feelings to you?

In that case, you have a lot to learn.

[BeFree]

10. So, that's how you do it?

How can anyone feel at peace with such carnage running rampant? How do some of you do it? What is your secret? Do you just ignore it?

I assume nothing, I asked a question. But it sure looks like you feel attacking me is how you get your peace. I learned something about you, that's for sure. Not surprised, we peaceniks get that a lot.

[elizfeelinggreat]

12. I do not believe that's how the poster feels, you've misread

the post. I'm a peacenik, too and I didn't read it that way.

There were massive protests against the war and we still hear that "we" don't care.
The opinion polls show that people want out and we still hear that "we" don't care.
We voted out the administration that insisted on the carnage and still we don't care?

I guess if we don't all quit whatever we're doing and behave as some people bid us, what we do doesn't matter and we don't care. :shrug:

[mmonk]

4. If you care about the silence and indifference,

you might be interested in this video I posted.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x316254

[Karenina]

7. GREAT VIDEO!!!

Thanx for that!

[mmonk]

9. You're welcome and thank you.

[Echo In Light]

18. Thanks for posting

[mmonk]

19. You got it and thanks for your post so we may not forget

or fail to notice.

[lunatica]

6. Way back before the war in Afghanistan started I saw demonstrators with

signs objecting to the coming carnage. Where has the author of that column been?

[BeFree]

11. What column?

[lunatica]

13. this one

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/23-3

[Solly Mack]

14. K&R

[Karenina]

15. Hallo, Liebling!!!

Sie grokken noch nicht was passiert ist. :-(

[Solly Mack]

16. True :(

[Cetacea]

17. K&R n/t

[Wednesdays]

20. K&R

:kick:

[eridani]

21. If someone died because you blew up the hospital that could have cured his/her preventable disease--

--that is just as much a casualty as being shot or blown up directly

[Karenina]

22. . .

[Echo In Light]

23. Bump