A helluva man...One helluvan American.
He has earned the right to speak...hear him out.
(Got this one from Stewbert.)
After Pat's Birthday
Kevin Tillman Honors Late Brother's Birthday with Plea to Speak up for Democracy
by Kevin Tillman
It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we get out.
Much has happened since we handed over our voice:
Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.
Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.
Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.
Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.
Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.
Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.
Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.
Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.
Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.
Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.
Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.
Somehow torture is tolerated.
Somehow lying is tolerated.
Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.
Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.
Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.
Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.
Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.
Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.
Somehow this is tolerated.
Somehow nobody is accountable for this.
In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.
Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.
Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin was discharged in 2005.
(Got this one from Stewbert.)
After Pat's Birthday
Kevin Tillman Honors Late Brother's Birthday with Plea to Speak up for Democracy
by Kevin Tillman
It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we get out.
Much has happened since we handed over our voice:
Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.
Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.
Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.
Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.
Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.
Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.
Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.
Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.
Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.
Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.
Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.
Somehow torture is tolerated.
Somehow lying is tolerated.
Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.
Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.
Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.
Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.
Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.
Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.
Somehow this is tolerated.
Somehow nobody is accountable for this.
In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.
Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.
Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin was discharged in 2005.
posted by DogMa @12:43 AM
11 Comments:
great letter. I don't agree but he has the right to say what he wants. My only question is this, was he drafted into the military? I get so tired of people crying because someone died in the military. I have family that are lifers in the military and thankfully they haven't died in combat but there is a possibility. I'd never write a letter like this...ok maybe I would but neither of these guys were drafted so bitching about this situation seems highly suspect to me. If he hadn't of died he'd have come home for the whole ticker tape parade and then he'd be a war hero...unfortunately he died but he chose to join the military. I feel bad for him that he lost his brother. I am not for war at all but I am glad that Saddam is out of office. I am sure this is going to get me blasted but I know that they still hand out guns in the military and not daisies. We have a military and there's a big possibility that you are going to die defending the country you live in for beliefs that may not necessarily be yours unfortunately.
I don't mean that I get "tired of people mourning the loss of loved ones" by the way. I meant I get tired of the Cindy Sheehans of the world.
awwww...anonymous is a great way of being a super big puss. I may not have opinions that are popular but at least I'm brave enough to put my name and not hide behind an "anonymous name".
Ughh
Some Random Girl,
You’re right we are all entitled to our own opinions and beliefs, no matter how crass, ignorant or hurtful they are to others. That’s what makes the US of A great!
I to am in slight agreement with you that when one enters the military of their own volition, especially during a time of war they should expect some level of danger…As should there family, friends and countrymen. But for you to say that you’re tired of hearing from those who have lost loved ones in the military and that you think they should just move-on is not only belittling of what our military does but it also speaks to your lack of total compassion and understanding of what it means to be a member of the human race.
I thought the same thing during 9/11 when mass funerals were televised of the many firefighters and police who lost there lives that day. However, I believed and still do that everyone is entitled the right to grieve, question why their loved one died and to fight for change so that a similar tragedies don’t reoccur.
Many people who are serving presently around the world (Iraq & Afghanistan) for our country in various factions of the military feel that we as a nation are there under false pretenses and that its time to come home. You stated in the above that you doubted Pat Tillman would have reserved hero’s welcome if he had returned home alive. I suspect he would…He did after all “volunteer” for the military, passed up professional athletic contracts and took a job that was especially dangerous. I personally think all our members of the military who return home dead or alive should receive a proper welcome.
My father was “drafted” into the army at the age of 17, as was his older brother, both to fight in the Vietnam Conflict. My father later returned home shot, missing some organs, haunted by an experience that has for ever changed him in a way only a bad war can. Also, I currently have several friends who are fighting in Iraq. Now they weren’t drafted but does that make their sacrifice any less? I think not. You mentioned in your first comment that you have a few family members who are “lifer’s” in the military…I truly hope you never have to experience the loss that as you say so many are “crying” over.
Lastly, I noticed that you didn’t appreciate a person “posting anonymously” that’s pretty funny since your name is “Some Random Girl”. It shouldn’t matter if a comment by another person was in incognito or not it should still carry the same amount of weight. For the record though I am Gray Ghost’s Cousin Matt from Portland, Oregon.
I do have compassion and support for the military. I feel bad for anyone who loses someone in military and otherwise. I just have to wonder when people join the military what they expect? thanks for the open and honest retort Matt.
PS: my name is Jules and it's all over my blog so SRG is just my name online.
Ok.
Thats enough.
Sorry.
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