In response to Phil Hayes’ letter, I would like to respectfully disagree with some of his points. While Hayes suggests we should be ashamed by the Iraq War display because it politicizes the deaths of American soldiers and Iraqi civilians, I think that this display conveys a message that is far more important than bipartisan distinctions. The message of the graveyard on SLU’s quad is that people die. One can avoid contemplating this loss of life by arguing and protesting the display because of its political message, and one would be na’ve to think there was no political statement being made. However, this display was also a visual remembrance that as we walked to class in our gated, pristine SLU community, people were (and still are) dying. The display was a powerful, sobering reminder of the incredible loss of life in the Iraq War. Regardless of your feelings toward the war and what country a fallen soldier may represent, people who had laughed, hugged and cried can no longer do so because of political agendas. It is important that we who are living now realize the ramifications of our ideas and beliefs.

Aaron Meyer
Senior