When speaking of the folly of Iraq occupation, the phrase "blood and treasure" has come up a lot lately.
I don't like it.
The "blood" part is fine, and most accurately and boldly states the truth. Untold barrels of blood of Americans and Coalition partners and innocent Iraqi men, women, and children has been spilled. No mincing of words there. "Fatalities" is too spreadsheet-like, "Casualties" is even more cold and ambiguous. No, "Blood" is the right word for the job.
My problem is with the "treasure" part. What the hell does that mean?
Spare me the dictionary; "treasure" is hinged chests bursting open with glittery coins and diamond crowns and rubies as big as grapefruits. Treasure is stacks of gold bars being wheeled around Fort Knox. It's the sound of the inside of a casino. Treasure is only to be had by the evil (pirates and robber barons) or the incredibly lucky (sunken ship seekers and lottery winners).
Most common folk never have and never will own "treasure". For most people, the most expensive bauble they will ever touch is their own simple 14k wedding band. On the lowest level, treasure is something someone else has, that you won't ever even see in a lifetime of hard work. Therefore losing it doesn't really hurt you.
So why do Democratic/progressive leaders and others continue to call what we're all losing daily by being in Iraq "treasure"?
Do they mean "[national] treasure", meaning an implied, catch-all phrase for the US Treasury's money, our collective time (especially that of the troops and their families), and the finite resource of American international goodwill? Then say that.
I guess what I'm getting at is "treasure" sounds elitist and really doesn't resonate well with me one bit. We are not losing our tiny stash of Wheat Pennies and Aunt Hazel's pearls -- they'll be valuable some day!-- through a hole in a pocket in our BDUs over there.
If Dems want to drive this point home, call it what it is: "Your tax dollars." Put the real and rising and HUGE number on it, and shout it from the rooftops incessantly. Frame this dialogue properly from the start. Force the Masters of War to explain every dollar, every day, to the tune of billions. "Treasure" is too easily glossed over as distant and inapplicable by the typical American.