Baghdad ER

I managed to catch HBO's excellent documentary about the 86th CaSH (Combat Support Hospital) in Baghdad this past week. HBO will be airing it in prime time again on Memorial Day. I can't say enough good things about this program. I think it's important for Americans to see it, if for no other reason than to see the amazingly skilled and dedicated people (volunteers) that are keeping the number US war dead much lower than it could be (remember, nearly 18,000 US service persons have been injured). Thanks to the medical staff at the CaSH, the US has a higher survival rate for injured soldiers than in any previous war.

I think it's also important for us in the US to remind ourselves about the realities of war. It's not glorious and noble adventure. It's not nifty videos of "surgical strikes" that are released to CNN for our amusement. It's blood and guts. It's kids getting their asses blown off. And it's the shocked, blank expressions on their faces as they wonder what the hell happened to them.

Update*
Fresh Air's Terri gross interviewed Baghdad ER filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill on Monday. You can listen to it here.

Memorial Day Weekend

Don't forget to take a moment to think about the men and women who will never come home, and those who will come home but will never be whole again:

2,400 killed
17,774 wounded

ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH

by Wilford Owen

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in The hands of boys but in their eyes
Shall shine The holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Empty Spaces

Fan District residents know that today was the Strawberry Street Festival. This event is a lot of fun for the neighborhood and the kids who attend Fox Elementary School (which benefits from much of the proceeds). This year we are missing some good people. Bryan and Kathy Harvey and their daughters aren't here this year. Kathy had organized the games at the festival for the past couple of years. Bryan used to help with the week long run-up to the event, doing his goofy Elvis impersonation act, which he would perform for the kids as they made their way to their classrooms in the morning. Obviously, Stella was a student here. She's gone too. No doubt her pals are thinking about the empty space she's left behind. Their absence is hard to miss.

This year the proceeds from the children's games and activities were donated to the Harvey Family Memorial Fund. More info on that is available here.