"One family, two sacrifices"

20 January 2014: At the beginning of this moving article about a family who has lost two sons in war, the writer reminds us of an important difference between the "war on terror" and earlier wars: "Unlike in World War II, when the draft meant that nearly everyone had family members and friends risking their lives, the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan have been waged by 2.5 million volunteers — less than 1 percent of the U.S. population." This is something I think about often: how little my own life has been touched by these never-ending wars, how such a small population of the country has paid such an enormous price. In the face of such sacrifice, I find that again and again, words fail me. It seems the very least one can do is simply be grateful and thankful for the Wise family, specifically Jeremy and Ben. And pray for peace.