It’s been two and a half years. There are almost 2000 soldiers deaths officially accounted for. How many family members does that come to? Is there a number?

The war has cost billions. Where did it all go? Is there an accurate number?

There are thousands of Iraqi causalties. Does anyone know their names? Has anyone counted?

In the wars before, history tells of the great loss of life – the monetary cost. Are there numbers we can trust?

Hundreds of thousands of protestors have marched in a thousand different cities. Are we sure of the count? Should we count again?

Numbers – empty boots – downturned rifles in the sand – crosses on a field – on a beach – along the side of the road -- continuous dollar counts on countless websites – crowds at the capitol – on buses – on subways – the million man march – are they people?

How many times have you been arrested for the "cause?" That symbolic confinement, did you forget that the game has you already confined? Who in their right mind would plan to be arrested? Did you smile while they bound your hands? Did they treat you like a person or a number?

What exactly do the numbers mean?

The giant board game of life. Who wins? The ones who know the most numbers?

The game does nothing – it tells us nothing – it means nothing, except one more number to add, one more number to shout out –one more candle to light.

DEAD – is dead. When the first soldier died, freedom lost its meaning. When the last soldier dies….

when will the last soldier die?

And – don’t tell me that soldier died for our freedom. You are the only one who can earn your freedom, and it doesn’t come from counting numbers.

Death does not bring freedom, except from the numbers – the endless numbers that are one more clever way to avoid the truth – no one can see the solution - everyone just keep counting.

STOP.

Dead is dead. So what is life?

As the parents are in the streets protesting number 2000, where are their children? Who takes care of them while the passion is the "cause"? Don’t tell me your passion is to keep children alive –

The way to keep children alive is to be with them, to teach them a higher standard than what has come before by putting them before the cause. To raise them with love and to educate them to real life, not the game, so they grow up fearless and free – confident in themselves so others cannot control them.

As Congress is in its chambers counting the dollar signs in the spending measures they pass, where is the money? Just one more part of the game. Is the money being spent to improve life? Don’t tell me a bridge in Alaska is in the best interests of the people. Does anyone know who the people are?

As you look at the rows of empty boots and crosses, is it a person that you cry for? Do you see faces of the sacrifice – a life, the tears? Pictures of you crying before a cross with no name, for what, did you know the man? They’re gone because of war.

Why did you wait until now to care? Because now he’s a number?

As you make plans to be arrested and carried off, counting the number of times you have been processed in this "war," what is happening to people who have been falsely imprisoned for their beliefs? As you laugh, and drink together at the end of a day of civil disobedience, and plan the next venue to "do it all again," do you remember that people are REALLY confined for telling the truth about the game, or is it that you really don’t want to know?

How much is your life worth? I bet you know a number – what’s in the bank account?

But how about life? Do you know the value of your life? Or have you not yet lost enough to care?

It cannot be worth much if you are still willing to play the game. You would not be relying on someone else to sacrifice for your cause.

The game is over – you want sacrifice – then make it.

If your life matters – then fight for it – don’t claim another’s sacrifice in your name, how cowardly. Fight for it – by living it with passion, and living REAL. Feel your own pain, don’t pass it off to someone else and claim to believe in the "cause."

If you want that bridge, then build it, don’t force others to pay for something they will never use – and then walk across it proudly as if you care about the people on the other side.

If you want your children to live in freedom, then give them the freedom they deserve. Love them, teach them, make theirs the most important lives in yours, and show them that your stand is not a game.

If you want to be remembered for having gone to jail for a cause - then make it real.

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Monica Benderman may be reached at mdawnb@coastalnow.net or
monica@BendermanTimeline.com

©Monica Benderman/BendermanTimeline.com
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