[Vision2020] 2,000 and Counting

[Tom Hansen]

Greetings Visionaires -

Earlier today America suffered its 2,000th casualty in the war in Iraq, and
still no end in sight.

Although one death is inexcusable, it has become painfully evident that
2,000 is a mere statistic.

Perhaps Celeste Zappala stated it best in her poem.

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Today the number passed 2000
by Celeste Zappala

Just a number perhaps 
a moment, 
at sometime today 
some young person's life 
swung in the balance, 
they drew their last breath 
and were gone. 
And all the hopes 
that rode on them, 
all the prayers 
that followed them, 
from all the people 
who loved them 
are done. 
All the glorious days 
of a future 
they would have held, 
dreams they had in their heart, 
words they wanted to say 
and maybe children 
they hoped to have 
are gone. 
In the wind of the desert, 
in the smoke of explosion 
at the speed of a bullet. 
Gone. 
And we who mourn them 
will never know 
who they may have become, 
what light they may have given 
the World. 
In their name 
and with all the love we possess 
let us work 
to stop this war.

With hope,
Celeste Zappala

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 
 
--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.