Eyes Wide Open (and the boots keep multiplying)

Yesterday I visited the "Eyes Wide Open" exhibit on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.

"Eyes Wide Open: the Human Cost of War in Iraq" is a traveling exhibit by the American Friends Service Committee that focuses on the lives lost in the Iraq war and occupation. The exhibit features row after row of army boots representing the U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq since this war began.

The exibit was here in Philly during the July 4th weekend last year, with 864 pairs of boots on display at that time. Since then, the exibit has traveled to over 60 cities throughout the U.S.

Now, on this return visit to Philly, the exhibit has more than doubled in size, with 1746 pairs of boots on display as of my visit there yesterday.

Think about that. The number of U.S. military casualties in Iraq has more than doubled in the past 365 days. And for what?

Another section of the exhibit features a variety of civilian shoes of all types and sizes, representing a fraction of the Iraqi civilian casualties.

Walking through the exhibit was a very moving experience that I'll never forget.

The exhibit will continue to make its rounds around the country for as long as this war continues. Let's hope that the boot count does not double yet again in the coming year.

For more information about "Eyes Wide Open", including a schedule of upcoming exhibit dates around the country, click here.