In Memory...

This post will be included on all of my blogs today, in remembrance of those who have lost their lives, and those that gave them trying to save others...

We all know what happened seven years ago today.. And while I'm still not sure of who exactly attacked those innocent lives or how the reinforced towers fell due to extreme heat (steel has never melted from a fire) or why witnesses reported secondary explosions or why an airliner was able to penetrate the Pentagon's airspace after the Towers had been attacked... but I do believe I know why they choose the targets they did.. The Twin Towers were symbolic of America's wealth, trade, and capitalistic values, and the Pentagon represents our military power.

Over 2,900 Americans and 236 foreigners died in the attacks, and many are still missing and presumed dead.

This is the world we live in... Consider these facts:

Currently in Iraq, there have been over 87,000 civilian and 4,155 American military casualties.

In the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 1,290 Palestinians and 86 Israelis have been killed.

An estimated 160,000 to 400,000 have been murdered in the Darfur region of Africa, and the genocide is still occurring to date.

In 1994, the UN reports that 800,000 were killed during the Rwandan Genocide.

During the Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979, an estimated 1,700,000 lost their lives.

From 1933 to 1935, the Holocaust claimed the lives of an estimated 9,000,000 to 11,000,000.

Over 1,500,000 Armenians were killed from 1915 to 1917.

Why do we continue to harm each other? Hatred and misunderstanding. Extremism and twisted views.

We are all human-- no matter who our God is, what color our skin is, who our ancestors were, or what's mine and what's yours. It's time we started treating each other that way!

Thank you to all the peace-makers. Thank you to all those that try to help and save others. And today, we should not only remember those that died seven years ago in the 9/11 attacks, but the millions who have lost their lives from the misguided hatred of others in our past...

An Alarming Trend in the Military

Is it sexual harassment? Alcohol abuse? Hazing?

While all of these are still problems prevalent in the military, on of the most alarming issues is the rise of suicides...

From an article in the Washington Post entitled Solider's Suicide Rate On Pace to Set Record, Col Eddie Stephens of states that:

" The Army's suicide rate has increased from 12.4 per 100,000 in 2003, when the Iraq war started, to 18.1 per 100,000 last year. Suicide attempts by soldiers have also increased since 2003, Stephens said. This year the death rate is likely to exceed that of a demographically similar segment of the U.S. population -- 19.5 per 100,000, Stephens said."

So what's causing this alarming trend?

"Failed relationships, legal and financial troubles, and the high stress of wartime operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are the leading factors linked to the suicides, Army officials said."

Failed Relationships-- what relationship wouldn't be stressed after being stationed overseas for years at a a time? The war has been going on since 2003... That's five years of service, even if you do get a break every now and then to visit...

Legal and Financial troubles-- what American isn't suffering financial troubles right now with the state of the economy? And most soldiers only make in the 20's or 30's to start.. That's not a lot, especially when you have a family to support, or debts from prior to joining the service...

High stress of wartime operations in Iraq and Afghanistan-- War is stressful! No matter who a person is- and I've known plenty- they always come back changed from seeing and participating with the violent nature of war.

The military is taking steps to help those in need... But unfortunately, sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is contemplating suicide. And sometimes a person is determined to end their life and that there is no better way to deal with their concerns..

I think that after serving so long, and also the general attitude of the public towards the war, a soldier losses sight and motivation for what they are doing for our country. While I don't support the war, I will always support the current service members and the veterans who have contributed so much to our country...