Empty boots, hard hats: reminders of the fallen
'Eyes Wide Open' exhibit brings the human and economic costs of the Iraq war to LCC
Lana Boles
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Features
"People are sometimes shocked as if awakened from a dream. The war is too much for many to contemplate and is then simply ignored, off the radar," Hunter said.
"In the tradition of the Quakers, they have ... what they call 'speaking truth to power,'" Stan Taylor, co-chair of the Lane Peace Center said. In 'speaking truth to power,' the exhibit attempts to convey factual information about the true cost of the war in Iraq without a political agenda.
The financial burden of the war is broken down into figures from the National Priorities Project that apply to each locality the exhibit visits. "We then look at that money and estimate how much health care could have been covered, how many teachers could have been hired, how much tuition and books, scholarships could have been distributed," Hunter said.
Projections of what various towns throughout the area pay in taxes on a daily or yearly basis are displayed on posters and handouts.
Hunter reported that Oregon has contributed over $6 billion since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. And according to Hunter, the war is costing U.S. taxpayers $724 million per day.
Through mingling the demonstration of the human toll via, flags, photos, and footwear, with the literal cost to Americans, "Eyes Wide Open" attempts to convey a more complete cost of war.
"It shows in a real visceral way, the true cost of war," Taylor said.
The Lane Peace Center presents "Eyes Wide Open Oregon: the Human and Economic Cost of War," April 3 and 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the LCC cafeteria and Bristow Square.
The exhibit is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, Rural Organizing Project, Military Families Speak Out and Veterans for Peace Chapter 72.
The local costs of the war:
Since its beginning, citizens of Eugene have paid $148,600,000 in taxes to fund the war in Iraq.
For the same amount, 30,230 Eugene citizens could have had full-coverage health care since the war began. Or, 25,452 university students could have had tuition and books paid for.
If Congress passes the war-related spending request for fiscal year 2008:
It is projected to cost the citizens of Lane County $106,700,000.
It is projected to cost the citizens of Oregon $1,251,800,000.
-Data from the National Priorities Project of the war,
"In the tradition of the Quakers, they have ... what they call 'speaking truth to power,'" Stan Taylor, co-chair of the Lane Peace Center said. In 'speaking truth to power,' the exhibit attempts to convey factual information about the true cost of the war in Iraq without a political agenda.
The financial burden of the war is broken down into figures from the National Priorities Project that apply to each locality the exhibit visits. "We then look at that money and estimate how much health care could have been covered, how many teachers could have been hired, how much tuition and books, scholarships could have been distributed," Hunter said.
Projections of what various towns throughout the area pay in taxes on a daily or yearly basis are displayed on posters and handouts.
Hunter reported that Oregon has contributed over $6 billion since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. And according to Hunter, the war is costing U.S. taxpayers $724 million per day.
Through mingling the demonstration of the human toll via, flags, photos, and footwear, with the literal cost to Americans, "Eyes Wide Open" attempts to convey a more complete cost of war.
"It shows in a real visceral way, the true cost of war," Taylor said.
The Lane Peace Center presents "Eyes Wide Open Oregon: the Human and Economic Cost of War," April 3 and 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the LCC cafeteria and Bristow Square.
The exhibit is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, Rural Organizing Project, Military Families Speak Out and Veterans for Peace Chapter 72.
The local costs of the war:
Since its beginning, citizens of Eugene have paid $148,600,000 in taxes to fund the war in Iraq.
For the same amount, 30,230 Eugene citizens could have had full-coverage health care since the war began. Or, 25,452 university students could have had tuition and books paid for.
If Congress passes the war-related spending request for fiscal year 2008:
It is projected to cost the citizens of Lane County $106,700,000.
It is projected to cost the citizens of Oregon $1,251,800,000.
-Data from the National Priorities Project of the war,
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