Are the death of American Soldiers more sad then the Death of Iraqi's?

[LiberalVoice]

I seem to be having a dispute I never thought I would have with someone...I would very much appreciate everyones opinions.

[StephanieMarie]

1. I think they're equally sad:

Ours, because our young American's are dying over there for a lie that they are trying more and more desperately to believe in the face of overwhelming evidence that the whole thing is a lie.

Theirs, because they never threatened or attacked us, and do not deserve what is happening to them.

[Beaverhausen]

2. not to me

the death of innocent iraqi citizens and the death of our soldiers is equally sad in my opinion.

[seabeyond]

3. how about if they both be sad and we dont have to measure life

and death

[w4rma]

4. Nah. But, there are many more folks who would answer "yes" so American

deaths are emphasized over Iraqi deaths. In fact too many people get insulted when they think you might believe that they are equal.

[RandomKoolzip]

5. Both are terribly tragic. There's no reason to wish death on anyone.

This is not some comparitive game where we weigh the tragedy of others dying and hope to determine which is sadder. Neither should be dying of war-realted causes right now.

And, no offense, but saying things like "I wish more American troops would die" makes DU look even stupider and unattractive than saying things like "Bush caused the tsunami."

[LiberalVoice]

6. I don't wish for it...

I want nothing more then for this war to be over with as few casualties as possible...My only point in that previous post was that I thought it was the only way selfish americans would actually stand up for whats right.

Believe me from the bottom of my heart I want no more death...I just don't see how, without Bush directly admitting he made a terrible decision, will the american people ever stand up for an end to this war.

[VOX]

7. In an unjust war, *all* deaths are tragic. However, for popular opinion...

to turn against these vile corporate-driven wars, it seems to be the deaths of "our own" that eventually undermines and reverses public support.

As the number of dead G.I.s in Vietnam steadily increased, popular opinion in the U.S. began to turn against that obscene war. Sadly, it's the deaths of young American men and women, and the prospect of more of them dying, that finally hits home in a less abstract fashion.

But the reality is that every death is an unspeakable tragedy in these situations.

[DrWeird]

8. Of course they are.

That's why everybody hears about the one GI who was killed and gets all angry and upset about it, and ignores the some 250 Iraqi civilians who are killed every day on average.

Fucking racists.

[RandomKoolzip]

11. Racists? A good number of our troops are black, hispanic....

and come from the lower rungs of the economic ladder.

How exactly is it that mourning the loss of OUR guys is despicable? The men and women over there come from OUR neighborhoods, went to OUR schools, came out of OUR communities. I don't think it especially racist or xenophobic to mourn the deaths of those people who died for an unjust cause who happen to have grown up with us in our country. It's just a natural response.

If we neglect to include dead Iraqi civilans in the equation when expressing our grief, it's not because of racism or prejudice against brown-skinned people, it's just that it's our armed forces taking losses. It's unbearably sad and stupid that EITHER side has to die in this fucking unnecessary war, but to pick on the families and friends and neighbors of the American troops for not including Iraqis in their expressions of grief seems a bit like special pleading to me.

[DrWeird]

13. The whole war is racist.

The cause is racist. People who support it are racist. People who care more about US troops than Iraqi civilians are racist.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

[K-W]

9. I find them less sad. (the lives have equal value of course)

I dont blame our soldiers for thier illegal mission, but its hard to have the same sympathy as for the people who live in the country we invaded. And this is not anti-americanism. If our soldiers were killed fighting Iraqi's in the bombed out wreckage of cleveland, id be more saddned by thier deaths.

[Solly Mack]

10. I think a lot of America thinks that way

But for many of us the answer is No

All the deaths have been horrible. ...and the dying continues :(

[NNadir]

12. Well let's recall the old recruiting bumper sticker:

"Join the army. Travel to foreign and exotic countries, meet interesting and different people and kill them."

Americans seem to think that only American dead count, unless the dead are killed by American enemies. If Saddam Hussein had killed the same number of Iraqi people that George Bush and Dick Cheney killed for Halliburton, there would be an endless hue and cry in our media.

This war is so disgusting I cannot even begin to say...

[Cleita]

14. All death is sad. It is so final, but any death that could have

been prevented is not only sad but carries the weight of some very bad karma. Those Americans who supported this war will have a heavy karmic debt to pay. Mr. Bush, you and your minions will pay the biggest debt. You wait and see.

[mike_c]

15. any death is tragic, but I especially mourn the deaths of civilians...

...whose country has been illegally invaded. "Our troops" are engaged in a criminal enterprise, and if pressed to weigh the deaths of criminals and their victims, I'd have to say that the deaths of innocents and those who've taken up arms to defend their country from invasion is the greater tragedy.