Editorial: Casualties merit more recognition from public

Today, the UCLA campus is silent. Not, unfortunately, in
commemoration of the 1,519 U.S. soldiers who have died in the past
two years, but rather because of final exams. The war’s costs
have been tremendous ““ yet public outcry has paled in
comparison.

Two years ago today, Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez became the
United State’s first combat death in Iraq. A Guatemalan
orphan, Gutierrez arrived in Torrance after crossing the border
illegally. His foster parents have told news outlets he dreamed of
being an architect and was briefly enrolled at a community college
before dropping out to join the Marines.

Jose Gutierrez’s name, along with those of 1,518 other
U.S. soldiers killed since the invasion of Iraq, appear on pages
four and five of today’s Daily Bruin.

Except for a few large rallies before the invasion and several
abroad since then, the injustices of this war have fallen largely
on deaf ears in the United States. This lack of protest is both
perplexing and inexcusable ““ particularly on college
campuses.

Those dead soldiers had families: parents, brothers, sisters,
children. They had houses, jobs and hobbies. Some had dreams of
going to college, getting married, and starting a career.

More than 90 percent of the fatalities occurred after President
Bush declared an end to “major combat operations” on
May 2, 2003. Since then, casualties have routinely been reported,
and some news outlets have even run obituaries for local soldiers.
But as appalling as 1,519 deaths sound, the number is only a
fraction of the war’s total costs.

According to the Department of Defense, more than 11,000 U.S.
troops have been wounded. As did many Vietnam veterans, thousands
of soldiers returning from Iraq suffer from psychological harms
““ such as post-traumatic stress disorder ““ and reports
of homeless veterans are increasing.

Many of these wounded men and women will be affected for the
rest of their lives, but their stories are much more complicated
““ and are often never told.

Even less effort has been put into reporting Iraqi deaths and
injuries. The Bush administration has repeatedly said it makes no
attempt to keep track of Iraqi civilian deaths.

An unofficial count, reported by Iraqbodycount.net, estimates
17,000 to 19,500 Iraqi deaths have been recorded.

Forty years ago, students were the core of the anti-war
movement. But today, few fear being drafted from their comfortable
lives. Instead, they focus on final exams, parties and attaining
high-powered jobs ““ holding only peripheral concern for
tragedies across the globe.

However, unlike 40 years ago, there isn’t widespread
consensus, and thus, no simple rallying cry, like “Get out
now!” But that does not mean there should not be rallies.

The U.S. media has failed to adequately educate citizens about
this unjust war. The people of the United States have failed to
hold their government accountable for its actions. Two years of
imperialism, death and torture have passed without significant
outcry. The war is not abstract ““ the opposition should not
be either.