Sun, Surf & Tombstones

wow that was an amazing pod! thank you. i lost my little cousin in iraq...he was only 22.

Beats the hell out of pro-war parades and speeches. People need to realize that Afghanistan is quicksand too. Quicksand is quicksand, whether it's in the Great Dismal Swamp or the Okefenokee Swamp.

Great! Compelling!

Military Losses, 1980 thru 2007
(http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf)

As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider the following statistics:

The annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006:

1980 ......... 2,392 (Carter Year)

1981 .......... 2,380 (Reagan Year)
1984 .......... 1,999 (Reagan Year
1988 .......... 1,819 (Reagan Year)

1989 .......... 1,636 (George H W Year)
1990 .......... 1,508 (George H W Year)
1991 .......... 1,787 (George H W Year)
1992 .......... 1,293 (George H W Year)

1993 .......... 1,213 (Clinton Year)
1994 .......... 1,075 (Clinton Year)
1995 .......... 2,465 (Clinton Year)
1996 .......... 2,318 (Clinton Year)
1997 ............. 817 (Clinton Year)
1998 .......... 2,252 (Clinton Year)
1999 .......... 1,984 (Clinton Year)
2000 .......... 1,983 (Clinton Year)

Clinton years (1993-2000): 14,000 deaths

2001 ............. 890 (George W Year)
2002 .......... 1,007 (George W Year)
2003 .......... 1,410 (George W Year)
2004 .......... 1,887 (George W Year)
2005 ............. 919 (George W Year)
2006.............. 920 (George W Year)
2007.............. 899 (George W Year)

George W years (2001-2006): 7,932 deaths

These figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are LESS than the loss of military personnel during Bill Clinton's presidency; when America wasn't even involved in a war!

Race in general population:
European descent (White) ............... 69.12%
Hispanic ............................................ 12.5%
Black ................................................. 12.3%
Asian ................................................... 3.7%
Native American .................................. 1.0%
Other .................................................. 2.6%

Now... here are the fatalities by Race; over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom:
European descent (white) ................ 74.31%
Hispanic ........................................... 10.74%
Black ................................................ 9.67%
Asian ................................................. 1.81%
Native American ................................ 1.09%
Other ................................................ 0.33%

(These statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and they may be confirmed by anyone at:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

A great piece. I have seen the memorial in Santa Monica, and I believe you have really captured the emotional impact of the place. Using great storytelling, both through the visuals and the wonderful sound bites (especially the main war veteran's story), you have created a informative and heartfelt pod. Thank you.

Often times, it becomes difficult to create visual variety when there is no physical movement in the frame (the memorial doesn't have any real physical movement), but the way in which the piece was edited, combined with the haunting soundtrack, you have created a nice flow to the piece.

Outstanding. So many great voices are flowing through this piece. Well shot too. I particularly like the shot of the Iraq War vet. His contributions to this story are disturbing and poignant. Really well done.

This kind of protest is so powerful. I felt like All the things your characters said in this pod were in a way echoed by those who are just silently carrying coffins and setting up crosses. It's a kind of protest I had never seen before and as it went on it sank in on me what a huge task it is to set up and take down these crosses every week, and I think it sends a powerful message. I also thought ending it with the stills of the flag was an amazingly effective closing. Such a great pod and the Veterans for peace seem like such a great group.

Wow, that was top notch Tiffany and Nicholas. Great editing, I love the music. Where do you get your music, is it something you found royalty-free, or friends who make music? Tiffany, nice camerawork and editing. It was a good job of keeping variety, as we watch the interviews, to show still photos, textual facts, and fast speed movements. Excellent content, I feel like the emotional impact here is what draws us to a more realistic view of the war. Also, how did you find out about this particular event? Oh, and Tiffany did you find out more about the Current internship program?

Wow, this pod really captures the pain of the survivors. I like the cinematography, especially how they used the crosses in the background. They continue into the background of the frame almost endlessly.

The interview with the Iraq War Veteran, and the Iraqi civilians were essential to this pod - they give it authenticity and credibility.

true that!

Heart wrenching, but a beautifully done video and story told.

END OUR OCCUPATION of Iraq!!!

Not in 2017 , not by 2013.

Bring an end to this madness NOW.

If you truly were against this war, or if you are claiming you were wrong in voting for the war, what the heck are you doing dancing around with this long drawn out continuous occupation.

Save what ever lives of innocent Iraqi's you can, stop the blood shed and support our troops. BRING THEM HOME NOW!

It's so nice to hear from veterans who can actually tell it like it is over there. A point of view rarely seen/heard in main stream media.

beautiful work!

Heartbreaking