Vietnam Veterans Memorial (detail)

Numbers are often difficult to grasp. This memorial to the U.S. armed forces personnel lost or missing during the Vietnam War contains 58,256 names. 

Comments

[John McDonald]

It is very sad. But wonder how many innocent Vietnamese died from carpet bombing, agent orange spraying etc. It's probably in the millions. Where is the monument to them?

[Justin]

"Advances" in modern warfare and weaponry have resulted in a greater ratio of goodguys to badguys killed . Although the human cost is just as high as in the past the distribution of victims is now more unequal than ever. Business as usual.

Maya Lin's straightforward quotation of fact and reluctance to editorialize beyond the use of a black mirror give this monument eloquence and power. No cult of heroes here, no questions to ask.

It really comes down to a lot of dead kids ........or as Phil Ochs sang " it is always the old who lead the young to war . . ."

Still, we remain largely innumerate and blind even when facts stare us in the face.