Letter: Disturbing thoughts for a ‘beautiful mind’

Thursday, April 12, 2007 | 7:29 a.m.

Each time I read the Las Vegas Sun's recurring list of military personnel who have perished in the senseless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or elsewhere, such as the lists reflecting the 17 sacrificed Americans published on April 10 and the 11 listed on April 11, my mind is jolted back to when Barbara Bush, the commander in chief's mother, was reported to have made this crass, unforgivable statement on ABC's "Good Morning America" on March 18, 2003:

"Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"

I am sure that she would not have made such a disturbing statement if one or both of her granddaughters had been serving in the military. The beautiful minds of those sweethearts, wives, husbands, children, mothers, fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers and other relatives of those serving are constantly alert for current information concerning the status of their loved ones.

When the survivors learn of the loss or wounding of their family members having been sacrificed in this seemingly never-ending war, their beautiful minds are deeply scarred forever.

We must also never forget those military, both men and women, who have been exposed to these rigors, dangers and wounds of combat, both physical and mental, whose beautiful minds have withstood and suffered those terrible moments. Then we have those who are crippled for life and whose beautiful minds must forever suffer the consequences of their permanent disabilities.

Leopold A. Potsiadlo, Las Vegas