After all this time, we still don't include the non-US citizens who die in our wars in our headlines. What, they aren't worthy of being counted? Or noted? Only US citizens really matter?
We launched these wars without very good planning - clearly, or we wouldn't still be there nearly a decade later. We asked the world for a "coalition of the willing". Willing to die, that is. We told the Afghans that we were coming in to save them from the Taliban and Al Qaeda. They have fought by our side. Seven of them died in the helicopter along with US troops. When they die in that effort, they deserve to be noted with equal attention.
Taliban helicopter attack kills 31 US special forces troops
U.S. Special Forces Killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash
US Troops Killed as Copter Shot Down in Afghanistan
Karzai: 31 U.S. Troops Killed in Crash
Afghan helicopter crash kills 31 US troops
I've seen at least two diary titles here with the number 31.
38 people died in that helicopter. Stop using the number 31 in all the headlines. This is an appropriate headline:
US military helicopter crash in Afghanistan kills 38
It is well past time that we stepped down from our imperial perch and acknowledged the value of other people on the planet beside ourselves. Why don't we talk, constantly, about how many Afghans and Iraqis have been killed, injured, traumatized and rendered homeless by our actions? We need to face ourselves. A first step would be to at least acknowledge other human beings on an even par in our headlines.