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Mother’s Day 2004
Casualties of war are “All Our Children”

 What does U.N. peacekeeping forces, e.g., America’s soldiers and Iraqi denizens, et al who’ve been killed, or wounded, since Pres. George W. Bush gave thumbs up to a preempted strike (against a nation that was ruled by a tyrannical Suddam Hussein) have in common as we speak? Each and every one is, or was, some mother’s child.

Perhaps, that salient fact finally hit home recently when two photo-journalist were fired for photographing rows of flag draped coffins (containing casualties of a war that’s becoming increasing unpopular), which precludes a happy Mother’s Day for their family and those their lives touched directly and/ or indirectly. Then again, after over a year of fighting an ever escalating and seemingly futile war--to ideally liberate an unappreciative and hostile people that can’t be distinguished from being friends or foes—there’s a preponderance of evidence that Mother’s Day 2004 won’t be very happy for the most patriotic Americans. Especially at a time when unprecedented numbers of jobless citizens who’re trying to keep hope alive-- in wake of the ever spiraling cost of living-- in the “land of the free.”

Lest we forget, a very punitive Patriot Act is also coming dangerously close to making freedom a misnomer in our Democratic nation that has demonized prayer. Thus, we have caused to pause and ponder if the Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan was prophetic when he attempted to warn America of what we will be experiencing on Mother’s Day 2004. During an interview on CNN.com in 2002, He predicted that, “If the United States attacks Iraq, that hatred will only be worst and the cycle of violence that is now seen in acts that are called acts of terror will only increase and become worse.” Earlier he had made an even more passionate appeal to Pres. Bush in the Oct. 10, 2001 Final Call: “President Bush, I pray you won’t pursue what you have in mind. If you do, you will end what is known as the United States of America,"

He also warned, “The judgment of God will visit this country. We have arrived at a very critical hour when the ministers of God, who are watchmen on the wall, have to not only hear the word of God from the mouth of God, but we have a responsibility in an hour like this to warn the wicked from their wicked ways, and not fear what the wicked may say or do. ‘Only fear what God will do if we fail to deliver the message,’ he admonished. ‘Something terrible happened on September 11, and we have not gotten definitive answers as to why people hate America to that degree. People don’t act like this for nothing. People don’t sacrifice their lives and take the lives of others for nothing. If America would adopt the process of atonement, it would keep America strong hundreds of years into the future.

“The weapons of war have never kept any great empire of yesterday from falling. And the great weapons of war that America has amassed can not keep America from falling if she violates the principles that leads to perpetuity.” Need we remind you that Bush ignored the “humble words” of a wise Black man? Instead, Bush later endeared himself to millions of hawkish Americans, with Rambo mentalities, by arrogantly telling al-Qaida to “Bring it on!” And the terrorist are, indeed, bringing it on, as coffins draped with “Old Glory” sadden the hearts of American citizens of good consciences who see our fallen heroes as “All Our Children,” rather than casualties of war. Yet, the nation’s media reported on April 22, 2004, “On a day of terrible bloodshed in Iraq and Saudi Arabia,’ President Bush told a national gathering of newspaper executives.
“Terrorists view freedom and democracy as a threat, ”Bush said, ‘and the United States is being watched for its reaction to their attacks. And the Iraqi people are looking, you know, they're looking at America and saying, are we going to cut and run again? That's what they're thinking as well. And we're not going to cut and run if I'm in the Oval Office.’ Hours earlier, 68 people were killed when a series of car bombs detonated in the British-controlled city of Basra. Although his prevailing message was serious, Bush at times was jocular. It was one of the rare instances as president during which Bush addressed a large group not dominated by his own supporters.” For sure, “Bring it on.” Bush still has many hawkish supporters.

On the other hand, it’s doubtful that mothers of soldiers in Iraq, who read an April 15, 2004 AP article that revealed: “About 21,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq who were to return this month to their home bases in Louisiana and Germany will have their tours extended at least three months,” will vote for Bush. The article further explained, “The decision breaks the Army's promise to soldiers and their families that assignments in Iraq would be limited to 12 months. The affected soldiers have been in Iraq for a year. In addition, about 1,000 soldiers in transportation units based in Kuwait will be extended beyond one year, a defense official said. Most of them are in the National Guard or Reserve. They are deemed critical to re-supplying the troops based in Iraq.

“The tour extensions come at a delicate moment. At least 87 troops have been killed in April, the deadliest month since they set foot in Iraq in March 2003. The number of wounded also has skyrocketed. Of the estimated 21,000 soldiers affected by the extension in Iraq, about 18,000 are in the 1st Armored Division. About 2,800 are with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Scant hours after President Bush's pledge to send more troops to Iraq if needed, about 4,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard were called to active duty.” History repeats notwithstanding, unfortunately war is waged by old men, but fought by young men, therefore many mothers realize that of the 58, 183 soldiers who died in Vietnam, 48, 171 were between the ages of 17-25.
Ergo, it’s small wonder why Christianity/about.com’s “Meditation for Mother’s Day” concludes with: “As we are reminded on this day, the most powerful gift that any mother can give is this sense that we are loved unconditionally. This is what each of us needs. Yet it's what only a few of us have experienced fully even in the most loving mothers. But what we have seen in part in a mother's love, we see fully in the love of God. And its that love which supports and inspires us as we struggle to make God's love and God's justice real not only for ourselves and for our families, but for all the peoples of the world.” Because they’re all our children. Happy Mother’s Day.