Dear Fuseleer Friends,

Last night I attended one of the candlelight vigils marking the milestone of 2,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq. It was very moving and very sad. One person read out the names of the American soldiers and a bell was tolled after each name was read. Another speaker, alternating with the first, read the names of a FEW of the Iraqis killed by American forces, along with their ages and something about the circumstances of their death, and a bell was again tolled for each.

It was tragic to hear of so many dead children and babies. There were also deaths of grandmas and grandpas in their eighties. A number of these Iraqi victims were named Sayid.

Maybe it's inappropriate for me to bring to this board my grief and horror over this senseless war, but perhaps we can extend the love we feel for Lost's fictional Iraqi to feel something of the suffering of real Iraqis. Perhaps some of you will even conclude, as I have, that the only way to ameliorate the suffering of Iraq at this point is to work to end the occupation that is the direct and indirect cause of so much disorder and violence. (I know that the Saddam Hussein regime was terrible, but remember, a doctor's first command is "Do no harm"--in other words, do nothing rather than worsening an already bad situation.)

Anyway, thanks for listening.

Hear Hear! It is never inappropriate to call for peace. Good on you for going to the vigil, and for caring as much for the poor old Iraqis as you do for your own countrymen and women who are over there. I heard on Australian news that the mother of the soldier who was killed, and who has been so active in trying to stop the madness, was arrested! I will refrain from going on about the idiot politicians and bureaucrats who thought this was a good idea ... and our own idiot Prime Minister, who does whatever your President tells him to ... Gah!

It is great that Sayid was included in the cast of Lost - good on the show's creative people and producers for having him there. He is such a great character and throws a positive light on Iraqis and Muslims generally - at a time when they are being demonised throughout the western world.

It's a shame that so much of the world judges Americans by what our goverment, or in this case our misguided President, chooses to do. I add my voice to the voices clammoring for peace and an end to this senseless occupation.

I agree that it is wonderful that the writers and producers of Lost included an Iraqi character and have allowed him to be a fully developed human being and not a charicature.