04 May 2004

  
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Pat Tillman Cartoon

A cartoonist generated some controvesy noting that letting yourself be used by the military and the excuse-swappping GOP is actually dumb, not heroic, or if anything it's just a waste. No one would have cared if Tillman didn't look like like he was assembled from some uber-male checklist. The continued assertion that he died protecting our freedom is bizarre.
How has Iraq ever threatened my freedom?

"Tillman -- who gave up a $3.6-million National Football League contract to join the military and then died last month -- "falsely believed Bush's war against Iraq had something to do with 9/11. Actually, he was a cog in a low-rent occupation Army that shot more innocent civilians than terrorists to prop up puppet rulers and exploit gas and oil resources. So when Tillman got killed by the Afghan resistance, one word naturally came to mind: 'Uh -- idiot?' [says one person in the cartoon's final panel]. 'Sap?' [says another]. 'Hero!' [says an editor]."


 
 
johnny_jpeg to: death, dumb people
Comments (2)
 
 

Comments

  

I think it's a stretch to say Pat Tillman was "used" by the military. The man volunteered to be a Ranger because he personally felt it was the right thing to do. If you knew Pat Tillman personally, and said to him, "Dude, you can't cut it as a Ranger! You play for the goddamned Cardinals. And you're an idiot too!" I suppose that'd be a different story, but you don't. And neither does Ted Rall.

Was he a hero? According to the circumstances that led to his death, I'd say the guys that managed to avoid the ambush would probably say so. But that's certainly not for us, the media or Rall to decide.

Is it yet another wasteful death in this whole mess? Of course it is, and only more important to the media who probably collectively climaxed when they heard the news. (Tillman died in Afghanistan, not Iraq, btw.)

I just told Pazen not 30 minutes ago how sick I am of SportsCenter selling beer on Tillman's story. Shut up and let the man rest in peace.

Instead of court martialling the prison guard fucks in Iraq, why not let them work as "Improvised Explosive Device" detectors. Now that would be a great allocation of military resources. Those would be deaths I could get behind...

andrew 04 May 2004

The main thing that separates this guy from the rest of the drones in the army is that he walked away from a guaranteed lifetime supply of cash. That demonstrates conviction to me, not heroism.

I seem to remember that when he enlisted, he mentioned that his father and grandfather both served in the Armed Forces, and "what have I done? Nothing."

But the fact remains, he stepped up and tried to do what he felt was right. It is unfortunate that he met his maker this way.

I don't mind the media jumping on this, people are always interested in a story like this. Damn shame that is has to happen at all.

I agree with you guys that it is definately overdone, but I give him his props for changing course, and trying to make a difference.

Now if every single person of voting age tries to make a change come November, and simply votes, we can get back to talking about the comedic ninnies of the world.

Pazen 06 May 2004