Obsidian Wings' blogger, Andy Olmstead, has been killed while serving in Iraq. He left a post for Hilzoy to publish upon the event of his death and she has done so. This part struck me so I'm going to share it:
But for those who knew me and feel this pain, I think it's a good thing to realize that this pain has been felt by thousands and thousands (probably millions, actually) of other people all over the world. That is part of the cost of war, any war, no matter how justified. If everyone who feels this pain keeps that in mind the next time we have to decide whether or not war is a good idea, perhaps it will help us to make a more informed decision. Because it is pretty clear that the average American would not have supported the Iraq War had they known the costs going in. I am far too cynical to believe that any future debate over war will be any less vitriolic or emotional, but perhaps a few more people will realize just what those costs can be the next time.
If Iraq isn't an issue in 2008, if we don't demand that every candidate for federal office discuss it with us in detail every day, then we are dishonoring everyone who has suffered and died because of it.
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