Spring Break
Reminders of lives lost in war
White flags represent five or more Iraqi deaths, red flags show five American deaths
Gail Cole
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: News
|
The flags and information are brought to OSU by the Iraq Body Count Exhibit, which is a non-political organization that informs the public of the exact loss of life that has resulted in the past five years.
Posted signs for the exhibit state that each red flag represents five Americans killed, and each white flag represents a minimum of five Iraqis killed.
The exhibit is being hosted by the OSU College Democrats. Although it is located in the library quad, the Valley Library is not affiliated with the exhibit.
A booth will be located in the quad each day of the exhibit to present information on the exhibit as well as to accept donations. According to the exhibit's website, the organization is trying to raise $28,000 in order to create a one-to-one ratio of flags to lost lives for when the exhibit is taken to Washington, D.C.
Before coming to OSU, the exhibit was shown at Southern Oregon University.
The exhibit will next be placed near the California State Capitol in Sacramento from May 21-27.
Amanda Halama, an executive member of the OSU College Democrats, said the flags are a way to show the "human cost of the war."
"We don't talk about the numbers very much," Halama said. "It's a good visual representation to show that there is a number."
Local community members joined in by helping set up the flags.
"I'm concerned about the war every day," said Laurie Childers of Corvallis. "These flags have been used before and they will [be used] again."
As it was being set up, students were already taking notice.
"It forces people to think about it when they walk by," said Katie Parker, a sophomore in history.
"As long as they're thinking, it's a step in the right direction."
Gail Cole, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 11
Brett Nunley
posted 5/07/08 @ 4:54 PM PST
Non-political organization? Yeah right.
It's obvious what this is really about. It's anti-Iraq war and anti-Bush. You don't honor the fallen dead by merely pointing out the fact that they are dead. (Continued…)
Tiffany Becker
posted 5/08/08 @ 10:08 AM PST
So my question is when are we going to start letting our Veterans who were actually there, let their voice be heard about these terrible displays that completely disrespect them. (Continued…)
David Harrison
posted 5/08/08 @ 10:25 PM PST
Well, why don't the mainstream media show some respect for our troops and their sacrifice by showing flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq - they won't do that because their toadie corporate asses are owned by Bush and the Pentagon - thank you to the organizers of this exhibit for trying to wake people who would prefer to be unaware and show their patriotism by complacently slapping a "support our troops" sticker on their SUV
scott wolbrook
posted 5/08/08 @ 10:54 PM PST
I think that people have a hard time deali\ng with the reality of it - of this colossal mistake that we've been lead into - and they would rather find fault with organizations such as this one, and how "it portrays Bush in an unfavorable light", rather than simply acknowledge the exorbitant human cost of this debacle. (Continued…)
Brett Nunley
posted 5/09/08 @ 12:38 PM PST
Scott and David are missing the point.
Being against the war is one thing, but using our fallen dead as anti-war propaganda is distasteful and wrong. (Continued…)
Kevin Taylor
posted 5/09/08 @ 2:02 PM PST
Some have (quite reasonably) asked why there has never been such an Iraqi body count exhibit on display for the Iraqi slaughtered under the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Continued…)
Eric
posted 5/09/08 @ 2:22 PM PST
Where were all of the flags for the Iraqis and Kurds killed at the hand of Saddam Hussein when he was in power? Were were all the feminists and liberals protesting his treatment of women and children? How can this war be a mistake we took out a dictator who trampled on human rights and are trying to provide something America has taken for granted, Democracy. (Continued…)
jbjd
jbjd
posted 5/10/08 @ 6:15 PM PST
According to several government sources quoted in the press at that time, it was the sight on the nightly news of those flag draped coffins coming back from Vietnam and an accurate body count that propelled the end of that conflict. (Continued…)
Post a Comment
Comments by registered users are approved by default.