If your loved one died in Iraq, would you say it was worth it?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

I have seen a number of interviews of family members who had loved ones die in Iraq. Most all say, "They died for a noble cause, promoting democracy." I think that this makes them feel better -- that they didn't die in vain.

I can not imagine saying it was worth it, if I was in their situation. I would be angry at the government and bitter (hey, I am like that all the time anyway). Actually, I probably would do everything I could so that they wouldn't go in the first place.

I think their approach may make them feel better, but until they start getting mad and take the "we're angry and we're not going to take it anymore" approach - we will probably be in Iraq forever.

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. God, no! But I understand the need of the families to make death

meaningful. God, I feel for those people. And for the parents of the wounded who are coming back.

[Joey Liberal]

2. Hell no!

Any parent that says that its worth it for their kid to die for Iraqi freedom is lying or a pathetic right wing moron.

[RC]

3. Hell NO!

Why are we over there? So the few rich can get richer? Not with my relatives lives. No one ask us to do this. In fact most of the rest of the world said no. Hundreds of millions of people have died in vain for senseless wars in the last 50 or so years. All needless.
We need to get these paranoid war mongers out of power and into treatment.

[Forrestal]

4. The were not going to take it any more approach..

Would hopefully wake some up in order that they might listen. A person might die in a war and their death is not justified under the conditions of the body politic. The question is what did their death mean for them?
If they were motivated to enter into the army because they believed Iraqi's needed freedom, even if mission isn't accomplished some benefit may be gained in the mix of war because the Iraqi's will get to know the range of differences that exist amongst us. This adds to their sympathies for our position over time, because they will see that all our leaders do not necessarily represent the quality of the people.

[sendero]

5. I agree...

... nobody who has suffered the pain of losing a loved one wants to think it was for nothing. Especially while in the seven stages of grief.

In the coming years, many of these folks will change their minds. In the meantime, in the interest of sympathy and empathy I refuse to condemn them for holding on to a comforting illusion.

[KittyWampus]

11. IMO, The Meaning Or Worth Of Any One Individual's Death Is Up To Them

& their family to determine.

[patrice]

6. You are right. It's a defense mechanism against the unbearable pain.

It works so well that very few people recognize it for the defense mechanism it is. It's one of those things evolution left us with that contributes to our will to live. If we'd face the truth, many of us would give up.

[atreides1]

7. No

I would say they died for lies and to fill the pockets of companies close to the administration.

I would say that my loved one did not give their life for a noble cause, they died only to force a our beliefs with the barrel of a gun and the point of a bayonet.

The problem is that if they admit to the existence of the lies, the killing of civilians, the wanton destruction of Fallujah, then they would have to admit to themselves that their loved one might have been involved in the crimes that have been committed.

And they don't have the inner strength to deal with the truth.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. Interesting. I wonder if anyone knows how many soldiers are

from democrat families vs. republican families. I would have to imagine that if your parents are liberal you would be less inclined to sign up in the first place.

Recently, on C-SPAN they interviewed wounded soldiers. One of the guys had both his legs blown off. He said he was mad at the liberals when he got back here.

[MollyStark]

8. No

No member of my family is going to fight in Iraq or anywhere unless we are attacked.

[patricia92243]

10. They only interview the ones that say something like this. n/t

[sallyseven]

12. You are right.

The ones that say I am mad. Bush is an ass. never get interviewed. Once in a while one might slip through. Did you know that they are building bases in Iraq? Nine of them> My Congressman told me. He saw it in the budget and while he was in Iraq.

[ChiciB1]

13. One ONLY Needs To Remember Viet Nam!!

Many many horror stories, but proud parents in the beginning!

The circumstnaces are different, but War is War and Death is Death!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

14. 58,000 wasted lives in Vietnam but the idiot lives to perpetuate the pain.

[splat@14]

15. Difficult question

I support the hell out of the troops, just not the idiots that put them in harms way. You would have to think it was worth it as a family or friend because the individual did what he or she thought was the right thing to do. I won't pass judgment on their personal decision, I'll support them and their family and friends for the individual's decision and feel remorse and disdain for those that put them in a position to be lost. Sadly.

[haggard]

16. hell no

they died in vain for some power hungey texan

[Zerex71]

17. They *have* to believe that fairytale.

Because the alternative -- really believing the truth -- would make them rise up and do rash things -- rash things, I might add, which should be done.

[Crunchy Frog]

18. I wouldn't, but then, I'm so much against the war that I couldn't

even imagine thinking that anything about it is worth it. I'm sure that my response would be rage at the politicians responsible.

However, I really can't blame people who have lost a loved one, and try to find some kind of meaning in their death. It may just be something that alot of people have to do in order to cope. I really can't blame people for whatever their coping mechanisms may be.

I would imagine that most of the people serving in Iraq, and their families deal with the horrible sacrifices by convincing themselves that it's for some higher purpose.

Also, alot of people just don't bother to think, or to inform themselves, or to question authority figures.