April 15, 2004
The Truth
via Easy Bake Coven
A while ago I posted about The Dover Test and GW issuing an edict to ban all media coverage of returning coffins - as well as the fact that the commander in chief has not attended ONE SINGLE servicemembers funeral.
After his speech the other night I was again enraged by his shallow attempts as consolation and grieving with regard to the deaths of 688 Americans. (this number reflects the total number of American casualties during Operation Iraqi Freedom as of today April 15, 2004.
How does that saying go? You can learn a lot about a civilization by how they treat their dead...
Posted by MJ at April 15, 2004 10:33 AMYou can learn a lot about a civilization by how they treat their dead...
It's a sad picture. Very sad.
Does it seem disrespectful, the picture itself? Or is it that you think officials should attend more funerals?
I'll go read your other posts...if it was my son I wouldn't want the intrusion of a government official at a private ceremony unless they were a close personal friend. They shouldn't have the right to take and use that moment for political gain or otherwise improve their image. If a local official attended out of respect it may be acceptable to some.
But not if it were my son. They can send flowers without intruding or making a public display. Mabye it should be optional like the playing of Taps at a funeral where we are able to respectfully decline.
Whew. I just followed the link and attended the Texas funeral. It was overwhelming and sincere.
Off to wipe the tears now.
Posted by: meg at April 16, 2004 12:26 PMMeg,
The Dover Test asks "Is the American public prepared for the sight of our most precious resource coming home in flag-draped caskets?"
What I find deeply troubling is the fact that this administration, by banning media coverage, is doing everything possible to keep this nation in the dark with regard to the reality of soldiers coming home in boxes... The human cost of war.
We all remember the white gloved honor guards silent and solemn rite of unloading the caskets at Dover. I've wept more than a few times at the sight. I don't feel that the ceremony is for political gain at all - quite the opposite actually. And that's why this administration has banned it.
It's a very strategic maneuver. If we don't see it, we don't feel it. How many images like this one have you seen? Not many. It's a startling reality that puts an emotional face on this war - that's what they don't want us to see or feel. THAT is why this photo is so sad. It's real. Those are dead soldiers.
With regard to the quote...
That CNN piece sums it best for me at the end:
"By official government policy, there is no band to welcome them home. No honor guard to present the folded flag to their widow and orphan, to make certain the family knows that their loss is also their country's loss, that they do not weep alone. It is a cruel and ugly policy that robs the patriot of the glory and public honor he (or she) has earned and deserves."
As a non-American I find western blindness to the suffering and terror inflicted on ordinary Iraqi's by an force of 125 thousand foreign invaders more disturbing. And what about some respect for the 10 thousand plus Iraqi dead, mainly civilians. You talk about 688 American soldiers and private mercenaries killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. What about the over 600 Iraqi civilians, many women and children who were killed in the space of several days by these foreign invaders.
For some news that the mass media are not covering, have a loook at http://www.wildfirejo.blogspot.com/
Posted by: bea at April 21, 2004 04:38 PM
