|
May 5, 2008: Palo Alto Exhibit Shows Human Cost of War The Eyes Wide Open exhibit was on display at King Plaza in front of Palo Alto City Hall on May 4 and 5, offering a visual representation of lives lost in the Iraq War.
Nearly 430 pair of military boots and a labyrinth of civilian shoes filled the plaza in a traveling exhibit organized by the American Friends Service Committee.
The black, battered boots represented each California military casualty, with tags listing name, city and age. Every-day shoes from sneakers to pumps represented Iraqi citizens killed in the war. 
A list of the names of all U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq formed a temporary wall along with a display exploring the history, cost and consequences of war.
A day of war costs $720 million — an amount that could buy health care for more than 400,000 children, according to a Friends brochure in the display.
The exhibit, called "Eyes Wide Open," is being replicated nationwide in all 50 states.
Anti-war activists hosted various events, including a Muslim call to prayer by Omar Raza, music by Chris Lundin, and words from Cindy Sheehan, whose son, Casey, was killed while serving in Iraq.
The closing ceremony on May 5 included a reflection by Gold Star Families for Karen Meredith of Mountain View, whose son, Kenneth Ballard, was killed while serving in Iraq.
The Palo Alto exhibit was sponsored by a wide array of groups including: American Muslim Voice (AMV), Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice (MVPJ), Council of Churches of Santa Clara County and Peninsula Peace and Justice Center Declaration of Peace San Mateo.
|
