Some of the 1048 military boots on display at the "Eyes Wide Open" exhibit in Dayton, Ohio from September 24-27, 2004. New pairs of boots are added as U.S. deaths increase and as the exhibit moves to different U. S. cities. For more information about the exhibit and the war's impact, view the American Friends Service Committee website at http://afsc.org/eyes/.
...Along side the boots were several thousand shoes representing the many thousands of Iraqi deaths. While only symbols-- and not even the boots from the dead marines, soldiers, and airmen or shoes from real Iraqis-- the exhibit sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee-- made the war seem much closer and real than the daily media reports.
...The death and destruction in the war is clearly much more than a serious political and foreign policy mistake, but a deep violation of American ideals and an abuse of our military personnel sent to die in a wrong cause. I could feel the depth of the wounds to our nation's very soul and to our moral credibility and leadership. From the real pain I felt, it was clear to me that I-- and all other Americans-- are also victims of the war.
