Several news agencies are today carrying the grim notice that the number of American dead in Iraq has reached and passed the 4000 mark. Surely this is a moment for us all to take stock, step back, and realize the nature of this second Gulf War, I mean, four thousand; 4 x 10^3.
Except that this landmark, or, rather its importance as a number, is entirely artificial. It is significant to us simply because we count in base ten. If we counted in some other base, we'd be paying attention to different numbers - 4000 would be FA0 in base 10, or 7640 in base 8, neither of which have the same full, round sound of 4000.
What does this mean? Well, it means that death 4000 means no more, and no less, than death 3999 or 4001. No family is any less grieved at the loss of their son if his death is the four-thousandth or the three thousand seven hundred sixty-sixth. Death is death, period.
A few months ago I remember hearing a debate regarding when to fly the US flag at half mast. One proposal was to do so every time an American soldier was killed. The argument against this was that it would result in the flag always being at half mast. I'm not really clear on the thinking behind that argument, though; it seems to devalue death.
Perhps we should fly the flag upside-down.
Except that this landmark, or, rather its importance as a number, is entirely artificial. It is significant to us simply because we count in base ten. If we counted in some other base, we'd be paying attention to different numbers - 4000 would be FA0 in base 10, or 7640 in base 8, neither of which have the same full, round sound of 4000.
What does this mean? Well, it means that death 4000 means no more, and no less, than death 3999 or 4001. No family is any less grieved at the loss of their son if his death is the four-thousandth or the three thousand seven hundred sixty-sixth. Death is death, period.
A few months ago I remember hearing a debate regarding when to fly the US flag at half mast. One proposal was to do so every time an American soldier was killed. The argument against this was that it would result in the flag always being at half mast. I'm not really clear on the thinking behind that argument, though; it seems to devalue death.
Perhps we should fly the flag upside-down.
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