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I am truly saddened that Pat Tillman's family can't get any peace, knowing that their son's death was used for political purposes. That all of the glitz, and glamour that was adorned on him was a recruiting tool in a time that America was sobered to the fact that the righteous cause had been corrupted by the inhumane treatment of those we claim we wanted to liberate. It is shameful, that once again, a regular man, who had in his heart the intent to do right had his name slandered by those who seek power at all cost.
I see that we always mention what Mr. Tillman "walked away from" to join the military service. He walked away from a football career, and lots of money to do what he thought was right in his belief. All of our men and women who serve in the military "walk away" from something that is important to them. Surely, not all of them are rich, or famous, in fact most of them are just regular citizens who had the same heart that Mr. Tillman had. Is it any harder for a person to "walk away" from his family, wife or husband and his or her children? How about the safety of home and family. Isn't this also a sacrifice? Or have we fallen into the same mantra of the neocon, choosing one man over another, promoting fame and fortune over the average American. Understanding that most of these people are young, what have we sacrificed that is not apparent now? Have we sacrificed a great statesman, the cure to a terrible illness, an alternative fuel source? We cant give measure of a person based on what he has done, especially if they are young. It is the heart of a man who makes him who he is. Truly, Mr Tillman was a good man, and a hero, but no less than any other person who has given much to this great nation. To me, all who have "walked away" from the comforts of family and home to go to a hostile place, understanding that they may never see the people and things they love again have sacrificed much. Let us honour them all...every one, rich or poor, famous or simply loved in the neighbourhood where he or she comes from. Honour them all.
Now...through the story of Mr. Tillman, hopefully we understand the full evil that the neocon ideology has wrought upon us. Hopefuly we understand that they have no feelings for the soldiers, their families, or anyone else. Their "god" is power, and whatever it takes, whatever their "god" needs for them to slaughter at the alter, they will do it. The truth of course is first. They will use children, soldiers, distortied views of religion, or whatever it takes to fool us into complicity, and then wrap it in our flag, our patriotism and love for our great land and the way of life so many have sacrificed for. And if that doesn't work, fear, as we have seen for the past 6 years, works well too. Hopefully, we will wake up, because in my opinion, we are one man made catastrophe away from fascism, and they are inciting it by beating the drums of war against those who know that there is no civil justice to be had because through money, and power, the deck has been stacked against them.
Asslaymu 'alaykum
Zanubiyah.
I agree with your premise. No death is more or less important than another. Pat didn't give up more or less than any other soldier, and my guess is that he would be the first to tell you that.
The issue is that the administration used the death of a "famous" person to buck up the war cause. If Pat Tillman was Joe Smith, a welder in Iowa, then that would have been that-no one would have known other than us that read the death list in the paper.
Pat Tillman, whose name is somehow always preceeded by "NFL Star" was not an NFL star. I watched Pat Tillman when he played at ASU. I loved the guy...undersized Linebacker. He didn't have a scholarship, but worked his way into one. He was tenacious and eccentric. But, he was a last round pick in the NFL draft by the AZ Cardinals. Kind of a "homer."
All of us who watched Pat at ASU wanted him to succeed in the NFL. And he did. He played the game with abandon and because he played before the same crowds (ASU and AZ Cards) he was known and loved.
No other soldier, especially one that was killed, had those creds. And so when he was killed, the administration used him to further their cause. They well knew that he was killed by friendly fire shortly after his death. But they let the charade go on until well after the memorials. And remember the timing? Right as prison scandal (Abu Garahib) was breaking. A few months before the 2004 election.
And I have deep suspicions that his death was not just an accident.
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