Monday, December 13, 2004

7 Marines and a G.I. Are Killed in Separate Attacks in Iraq

This headline from the NY Times today disturbs me for a couple of reasons:

Does it really matter that those that died were "Marines" and "a G.I."?

Were they not all fighting on our side, for us?

Shouldn't it say "8 Americans"!

We are the language we use. When the headlines categorize like this, I think it tends to put the tragedy further away from us. Yes, to those in the specific services, it matters; but to America as a whole, it should matter that they are Americans first, Marines or G.I.'s second.

To their families, they are fathers, or brothers, or mothers, or sisters...

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