The Life and Death of Marla Ruzicka, One Year Ago

[WilliamPitt]

The True Cost Of War
By Sarah Holewinski

Saturday, April 15, 2006; Page A15

A year ago tomorrow, in Baghdad, a young woman from California was killed by a suicide bomb. Marla Ruzicka was working to get aid to Iraqi civilians harmed by U.S. military operations when her car and that of her colleague Faiz Ali Salim was destroyed on the now-infamous airport road.

Marla's legacy lives on in the countless people continuing her work and in the families she tried so hard to assist. Her help to victims of war should also be enshrined in our policies if we as a country are to be, as Marla put it, "just a little bit better."

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/14/AR2006041401089.html

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Her Name was Marla Ruzicka
by William Rivers Pitt
19 April 2005

Medea Benjamin remembers the day a smiling 17-year-old woman named Marla Ruzicka walked into the offices of Global Exchange in San Francisco looking to join their work. Benjamin, the director of Global Exchange, recalls Ruzicka as being a "vivacious young woman who wanted to learn about the world. She lived with our families, and worked with Global Exchange on issues ranging from the AIDS crisis in Africa to travel restrictions against Cuba."

In November of 2001, Benjamin and Ruzicka traveled to Afghanistan to observe the bombing campaign as it was happening. "We saw what happens when smart bombs drop and kill innocent people," recalls Benjamin. "We saw what collateral damage means. We saw the agony of war."

When the 'Shock and Awe' bombing campaign in Iraq unfolded, Ruzicka was there with several activists from a variety of organizations. Many of these activists returned to America in order to report on what they had seen, but Ruzicka stayed in Iraq and embarked upon a project of singular importance, one that began during her time in Afghanistan.

She set out, simply, to count the dead.

"In a news conference at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in March 2002," wrote Ruzicka in an editorial printed by USA Today, "Gen. Tommy Franks said, 'We don't do body counts.' In my two years in Iraq, the one question I am asked the most is: 'How many Iraqi civilians have been killed by American forces?' The American public has a right to know how many Iraqis have lost their lives since the start of the war and as hostilities continue."

Ruzicka founded an organization called Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), and went door to door across Iraq to speak to ordinary people and try to determine how many civilians had been killed. It was a daunting task given the size of the country, the many areas where fighting has taken place, and the extreme dangers involved.

In December of 2003, the San Francisco Chronicle published a report on Ruzicka's work in Iraq. "Our goal was never to get every name," said Ruzicka in the report, "but to draw attention to the dire need there. Now, we would like to transition into providing services, getting help for people who need it." The writer of the story posed a final question: Would she ever consider doing something a little safer? "To have a job where you can make things better for people? That's a blessing," she replied. "Why would I do anything else?"

On Saturday, April 16th, Marla Ruzicka was killed in Iraq by a car bomb. Two others died with her in the blast. She was 28 years old.

In all the horror, sorrow and death of this unjust and illegal war - 1,560 American soldiers killed, more than ten thousand others maimed, more than ten thousand Iraqi civilians reportedly killed, untold thousands more Iraqi civilians maimed - Marla Ruzicka is but one name. On the day she was killed, four other Americans--Sergeant Angelo Lozada, Sergeant Troymaine Toy, Specialist Randy Lee Stevens and Private Aaron Hudson--also died by violence. There is no list of the names of Iraqis who died that day, which is the reason why Ruzicka did what she did.

Hers is but one name on a long, long list, yet her life stands as a bright beacon for us all. She died trying to bring to light the true cost of this war, the wrenching damage done to families caught in the crossfire of this occupation. "We should recognize," says Medea Benjamin, "how much a 28-year-old woman from California was able to do, to not only bring compassion and comfort to many families in Afghanistan and Iraq, but to unpack the term 'collateral damage,' and show that war is indeed about destroying human lives and families and communities."

This war in Iraq is destroying human lives, families and communities. A proper tribute to the life and activism of Marla Ruzicka will involve all anti-war activists, who must redouble their efforts to end this war and bring the American troops home. A proper tribute would be to continue her work and make sure there is an accounting of the human toll of this occupation, so the truth is found for all to see and understand. A proper tribute would be to continue her efforts to force the American federal government to pay reparations to those whose lives have been shattered.

"Our best tribute to Marla," says Medea Benjamin, "would be to force our government to help innocent victims of war, but even more profoundly, to stop war."

Her name was Marla Ruzicka. She lived and died in service to others, for a cause greater than herself, full in the knowledge that one small person can have an enormous impact. Remember her, follow her lead, stand. That, perhaps, would be the greatest tribute.

http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/ruzicka.php

[stellanoir]

1. Of all the unbearably tragic stories

out of the disaster we've wrought over there this one made me cry. Not that one can ever really compare pain or loss, Marla's story and riverbend's telling of the loss of Jill Carrol's interpreter evoked the deepest aches in my heart.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

2. I will remember Marla, and speak of her tomorrow at our table

What a brave woman.

[WilliamPitt]

3. .

[Imagevision]

4. Only the good die young - Marla an incredibly special lady...

[Triana]

5. George bu$h could learn from her...

...what a REAL Christian is.

Happy Easter

[me b zola]

8. He would need a soul to learn anything from this incredible woman.n/t

[bear425]

6. K/R

Rest in Peace Marla. May her family be at peace knowing their daughter was a selfless and brave woman.

[struggle4progress]

7. Marla Ruzicka. Presente!

[Tom Joad]

9. Rachel Corrie, Presente!

Let's not forget another young woman, who was killed just 3 years ago, also fighting to expose civilian casualties in a war funded by the United States.



http://www.rachelcorrie.org/

[Hissyspit]

10. I haven't forgotten.