This is what I do. I log onto my computer and go here:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forc... /

And I scroll through names. Names like Brian A. Mack who was 36, my husband's age. I wonder what it would be like to face a day knowing that I need never make his lunch again, or jolt into "welcoming action" when I heard his car in the drive. And I am devastated for Brian's family. Each time I log in, I look at a different name; focus on a person, not a number. Keep it real. Go ahead and think me odd. It keeps it real. What is happening to our service people, their families, and innocent Iraqis is never really out of my head. I tend to personalize it.

It makes me able to come here to DU and focus on a multitude of things, whether they're important to me..or you, or anybody but the poster. Sometimes I get annoyed; I hide a thread here, a thread there. There is no kudzu or talk of the Edwards' family home on my DU experience. There is a lot of talk of the Mars company for me, because that issue is important to me. Sue me. It is and always will be.

Perhaps it is because of values instilled in me by my father (a wonderful man I wish you could all meet, because I know you would be blown away-or perhaps you would say the cancer was all his fault because of what he eats...how he lives...and smirk at him from lofty heights of knowing better) that I was able to feel something over the death of a mom...er celebrity...er gold digger...er whatever each one of you that clicks on this thread use to describe her. The loss of a human being who really never did anything to harm me, my children, our country makes me undeniably sad. I can't imagine the pain. Some think druggie; my thoughts? Really? They were wow, that sounds like what happened to me (some of you may not remember but two years ago the hospital f-ed up and didn't realize a bad situation and I ran a fever and my heart rate spiked, my lungs collapsed and if it weren't for MrG some of you would have been making flip comments about a Lounge Lizard a few days later). So, I can feel that.

Is it the most important thing in my life? No, my kids are...but I can still find room for it. And I think most here can.

A funny thing happened yesterday to put things in perspective. I agreed with someone that I am usually at odds with. Her response to me? "I think you meant to reply to someone else, MrsGrumpy". Is that what we are to become? Split down the middle on everything because we disagree on a few things? There are very few people on DU that I disagree with all the time on everything and disagreeing on one thing surely isn't going to drive me rabid with hatred.

Here in General Discussion I think there is room for it all, whether it interests you or not, it's bound to interest somebody. No, it's not going to make us look like some tabloid here tonight...it's going to make us look like human beings, which is what being liberal is all about. It's not about how well you spell, what kind of car you drive, or what's in your wallet. It's what's in your heart. At least in my opinion it is.