'Slain Army Ranger Called 'Dumb jock', 'Imperialist', And Generally Pissed On By Ignorant Bastards (1167 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 0.56 on 32 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Quartermain (View user info) at 2004-04-29 11:31:32 EDT
I read this and it just pissed me the fuck off to no end. This is right up there with the idiots around here (U of MN) that hold their 'teach-ins' about what an evil and horrible place America is and how the terrorists are actually 'freedom fighters.'
Guess who is funding this organisation?
OPERATION: IRAQI FREEDOM
Slain Army Ranger called 'dumb jock'
Anti-war activists say Tillman 'brainwashed into serving as a grunt'
An anti-globalist website posted a story on the ex-NFL player who became an Army Ranger, Pat Tillman, with the title "Dumb Jock Killed in Afghanistan." The Portland, Ore., branch of the Independent Media Center ran the headline above a story by the Washington Post about Tillman's death last week in a firefight with militia forces in Afghanistan.
Tillman has been lauded by many Americans, including President Bush, as a hero for walking away from a $3.6 million contract in the prime of his football career to join units serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The former Arizona Cardinals defensive back's head coach, Dave McGinnis, said after hearing of his death, "Pat knew his purpose in life. He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling, which was to protect and defend our country. Pat represents those who have and will make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."
But the Portland Independent Media Center website was filled with comments affirming the "Dumb Jock" headline. One suggested an alternative headline, " ... or, how about, 'privileged millionaire, blinded by nationalist mythology, pisses away the good life.'" Another suggested headline was: "'Citizen of empire allows ignorance to cause him to die for imperialism' or maybe ... Capitalist chooses to kill innocents instead of cashing check."
One reader who was identified as "George W." wrote, "Thanks for the laugh." Commenting on the article's reference to a "brave American," a reader replied: "'brave'???? for going over to Afghanistan completely uninvited and slaughtering brown-skinned people with advanced weaponry?"
Another said: "Tillman chose to go to Afghanistan. He's partially reponsible [sic] for the deaths of hundreds, maybe thousands of Afghan civilians. No need to feel sorry for him, other than feeling bad that he was brainwashed into serving as a grunt."
The reader continued:
"Interesting how another poster said going to Afghanistan in a crusade to kill people is the 'Christian' thing to do. An extremely high percentage of white Judeo-Christians are violent and condone killing. Literally speaking, the original headline is true. Tillman is a jock. Going to serve as cannon fodder is dumb. However, people who cheer the deaths of jocks are one and the same with the white supremacist NRA wackos who celebrated Hitler's birthday by murdering many jocks and nonwhites at Columbine. If you visit any mainstream sports forum, you'll see over 90 percent of the posts about the issue are patriotic nonsense. They want to avenge Tillman by killing even more people worldwide. On the rare occasion someone makes an intelligent point, e.g., his death was avoidable because we should have brought the troops home a long time ago, the intelligent posters get flamed to oblivion by bloodthirsty chicken hawk 'patriots.'
The USA will never completely control Afghanistan. Just like the Brits, Soviets, and other countries, the USA is guaranteed to lose."
The nonprofit Tides Foundation, heavily financed by Teresa Heinz Kerry, contributed $5,000 to the Washington, D.C. branch of the Independent Media Center, according to its 2001/2002 annual report
The D.C. Center's website had at least one comment from a reader affirming the Portland website's headline and comments. The Tides Center, a spinoff of the Tides Foundation, funds an ostensibly independent group of relatives of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, "Peaceful Tomorrows," which recently expressed outrage over campaign ads by President Bush.
The group also has given grants totaling $489,000 to the Iraq Peace Fund, which used the money to fund anti-war marches and groups such as MoveOn.org, which aims to defeat Bush in November.
The center reportedly gave $200,000 to The Ruckus Society, which trains anti-globalist activists and was responsible for destroying property in the World Trade Organization riots in Seattle in 1999.
The Independent Media Center said it was formed as an outgrowth of the violent Seattle protests.
User Reviews
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-04-30 20:01:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Gent dahlin,
First of all, dumb college kids have as much of a voice in political society as anyone else. I'm one of them.
Second of all, you're right. He was and is full of shit and the article is utter crap. It's just another example of the behavior described in the post.
Are you in DC yet?
Submitted by Quartermain (user info) at 2004-04-29 21:03:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
**Come on, I know the internet is more of a free form but when has it ever been acceptable to fire something and not site your source?**
I gave a source in my first reply to the reviews. The article can be found on
www. michaelsavage.com. As for Domenad's reply, I think the phrase he used i.e. 'John Kerry's website' might provide a clue as to where his allegations might be substantiated.
As for Kerry's treatment about his heroics, I think that it partly stems from the way he acted when he returned. He made a big public show of 'returning his medals', except it turns out to not be his medals he made his big statement with but those of others. His he kept. http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/airborne_combat_engineer/2004/01/whats_the_true_.html
Also, in the above article, I see alot of nasty comments about capitalists, and money, and so forth. I'm curious as to how these bastions of ideological purity think their benefactress made the money she donates to them? Not only is she one of the evil capitalist oppressors, but she is old money too, which is even worse.
I guess ideology only goes so far.
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2004-04-29 17:34:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I hate to turn this into a Kerry thing, but Gent is right.
Kerry did a very similar thing in Vietnam, but he survived. No one's calling him a hero. No, Kerry's a lying, thieving, liberal pussy. With 3 purple hearts and a silver star.
John Kerry is a hero.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-04-29 17:14:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
**The website those comments were posted on was linked to on John Kerry's website. I think that's a direct enough link to the Kerry campaign. **
Where? I can't find it. Why is it so hard for you people to simply type in the website when you find this stuff that you post here. Come on, I know the internet is more of a free form but when has it ever been acceptable to fire something and not site your source?
Look how easy it is: http://www.youarefullofshitifyoucannotproveyourpoint.com
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-04-29 16:52:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The website those comments were posted on was linked to on John Kerry's website. I think that's a direct enough link to the Kerry campaign.
Submitted by whitie at 2004-04-29 15:01:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck what some little smuck is saying about him. The mass media has already made him out to be some kind of hero, which is a joke. A woman, can't remember her name at the moment, was going to go to fight, but died of an alleegic reaction due to an immunization shot. Does that make her a hero? Nope. Just, don't tell the papers. They made her out to be a hero too. But, if we are going to say the Tiller was a hero, why not all the grunts killed so far? I think it's a sad day when those of wealth and or fame get all the attention.
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 14:12:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ahh. I see now. Your explanation really helped. Now I can stop looking for a chicken scatching translator on Google.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2004-04-29 14:10:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
The anti war activists can be dumbfucks. The pro-war 'hawks' can be dumbfucks. Great. Nobody's infallible, you know. That being said, I admire Pat Tillman. How many anti-war types would put their morality ahead of their own life?
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-04-29 14:05:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wow Gent, you really are a retard. Let's look at it once again:
For those of you that haven't, <-- That's a comma. Meaning a pause in the sentence, changing the context in which the sentence is taken.
Instead of commenting, send her an email - The first section here, which you omitted, means that instead of commenting (which is at the end of the said article), send an email.
I used to only think that you were mildly retarded, but now I fear that it is much worse than suspected.
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2004-04-29 14:01:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Its pretty fucked up what that site said, but linking it to Kerry seems kind of a stretch.
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 14:00:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
And I don't want to argue anymore. Just tell your mother to give you a spanking before putting you to bed tonight and we'll call it even.
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 13:59:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What, you have a problem with Rene Descartes?
And Gent is the most masculine name in the world.
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 13:57:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"For those of you that haven't read her [sic] shitty article... send her an email."
Seems to me like you are asking people to send this GUY a letter even though they haven't read the article.
Submitted by BleedTheSky (user info) at 2004-04-29 13:57:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Rene is a gay name.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-04-29 13:55:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Also, you seem a little offended by the remark of Rene being a girls name. Did I hit a sore spot there?
We're not in some fruity French country, not many guys are named Rene.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-04-29 13:53:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ok, Gent, let's take a little more time to R-E-A-D:
"For those of you that haven't, read her shitty ass article"
What part of that said "believe what I say and write her an angry letter?"
In the words of Levar Burton on Reading Rainbow..."Don't take MY word for it..."
That's the problem with old farts, they lose their comprehension of the written word. Tsk tsk, a shame.
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 13:49:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry, Random Joe... Rene is a dude. There are lots of guys named Rene, just not in your junior high school.
And secondly, what kind of advice are you giving people? Don't read what the person wrote, just believe what I say and send them an angry letter? That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. And it again shows what is wrong with young people.... they would rather take someones word for it rather than investigate and find truths out for themselves.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-04-29 13:42:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Gent:
Don't know many dudes named "Rene". It's a dumb ass girl that wrote the article, but you're probably right about her being wronged by a football player.
The sad thing is that she's a graduate student, supposedly gaining higher education.
For those of you that haven't, read her shitty ass article. Instead of commenting, send her an email! A quick search of the UMass website revealed that:
rene.at.student.umass.edu
Submitted by vergedor (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:41:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:34:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Eagle:
Let's get something straight... that paper is a collegiate paper (and UMass at that)... the kid that wrote that terrible piece had no idea what he was talking about. He had his facts wrong, and he also obviously harbored resentment for athletes. He probably had his books dumped in the hall by a football player or two in his day.
It is a terribly written article that arrives at no conclusion, presenting no facts but rather making incorrect assumptions. The bigger problem with this article is that it indicates what is really wrong with the new breed of young journalist. They are more concerned with making themselves part of the story than reporting the facts. It is all about becoming a star, and becoming bigger than the story being covered. Facts are tossed aside for sensationalism. We saw it clearly with Stephen Glass with TNR, and later with that moron from the NTY Jayson Blair. It is all about getting their ugly mugs on Hannity and Colmes or another moronic tv show that is clearly more about opinion than fact. Get used to trash like this, because this is where the journalism profession is going.
Submitted by Tom (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:20:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
That is pretty dumb of them.
What I don't get is: Why is an Ex NFL player killed in combat a more recognized hero that my friend's fiance?
Submitted by itchy (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:19:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Theresa Kerry has (at least two) charitable corporations: The Tides Foundation and the Tides Center. The Foundation gave $5,000 to the D.C. branch of the Independent Media Center (the Portland branch had the offensive headline). The Tides Center (different corp. but still belonging to Kerry) gives money to the anti-Bush survivors of 9/11, the Iraqi Peace Fund and MoveOn.org.
Just for clarity's sake.
Submitted by itchy (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:14:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for Pat Tillman and another +2 for Loki's explanation. Not to mention, $5,000 isn't really a huge amount of money (especially for Mrs. Kerry).
This just in:
The headline has been taken down. Someone, not sure who is petitioning the NFL to have the 40 yard lines of all fields colored red, white and blue in tribute to Tillman. You can contact the NFL at (212) 450-2000. If you are so inclined.
Submitted by Quartermain (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:13:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
**I'm not sure what part of this you are quoting from somewhere vs. what you have written and there do not seem to be any sources that I can follow to check it out for myself.**
Yeah, it is a little sloppy in that regard, sorry. I was a little irked. Which is still no excuse. Everything after 'Guess who is funding this organisation?' is quoted. The article can be found at www.michaelsavage.com.
**I also didn't follow this connection between Teresa Kerry's charitable foundation and the other groups it donates to or see what it has to do with the war in Afghanistan**
The connection is that the group that is making these scurrilous remarks about Pat Tillman and our military as a whole, as well as similar groups, is largely supported by the charity run by a woman whose husband is trying to become the C in C of our military.
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-04-29 12:10:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
A friend sent me this today:
http://www.dailycollegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/28/408f27f0591be
I don't understand these people.
I'm not saying Tillman is the number one superhero, but he - just like anyone over there fighting instead of sitting comfortably at home - made a sacrifice. That is more than these authors are doing.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:57:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hmmm, you know I do think the word "hero" gets thrown around so much that it really doesn't mean anything anymore. Who knows what the real motivation was behind his decision to enlist, but at least he was fighting the right war.
I didn't really follow the rest of this all that well. I'm not sure what part of this you are quoting from somewhere vs. what you have written and there do not seem to be any sources that I can follow to check it out for myself. I also didn't follow this connection between Teresa Kerry's charitable foundation and the other groups it donates to or see what it has to do with the war in Afghanistan and/or the death of a former NFL player.
How about this one though:
Every other Friday, we have jeans day at work. We donate $1 for the privilege to wear jeans to work. The money collected goes to various organizations depending on what little pet fund raiser project is going on at the time. One of the charities involved is the United Way. My guess is that over the past year, I have donated say $5 to the United Way through this little program. The United Way does a lot of good stuff, not that it doesn't. One of the big recipients of United Way funds is The Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts also do a lot of good stuff, but they also have a policy of restricting membership to only heterosexuals and have gone to court to protect that right. I do not agree with this policy but yet in a small wearing jeans to work way, I am contributing to it. All I'm saying is that money is fungible, charities are all nested, and nobody can possibly agree personally with what every charity they give money to does with every penny of that money.
Submitted by jboogz (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:52:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think Pat Tillman should be remembered not as a hero but as a good man. Sure the war in Iraq has its detractors but this man did what most people in the country are unwilling to do, pay the ultimate price for something he believes in. It is true that many people think the war in Iraq is foolish but to write articles that berate the dead is downright unhumane. Think of this man's family who not only have to deal with the loss of a son, brother, and friend but now have to read that his death was avoidable and that his choice to go to war was an idiotic one. I don't know how these people were raised but I was told no to speak ill of the dead. I hope Pat is up there looking down on these people and making sure that they all get what they deserve for talking badly of someone who has more courage and heart then someone sitting behind a computer screen where the biggest hardship in there day is the coffee room running out of stirrers. I hope they all get ghonarhea and die painfully.
Submitted by bargled (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:51:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Someone get offended?
That's the point. Durrrr
Submitted by Gent (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:47:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"The group also has given grants totaling $489,000 to the Iraq Peace Fund, which used the money to fund anti-war marches and groups such as MoveOn.org, which aims to defeat Bush in November.
The center reportedly gave $200,000 to The Ruckus Society, which trains anti-globalist activists and was responsible for destroying property in the World Trade Organization riots in Seattle in 1999."
And Reagan and Vice Pres. Bush gave weapons and training to terrorists in Afghanistan... the same people that ended up flying planes into our buildings. Then we propped up a young dictator named Saddam Hussein in Iraq during their war with Iran, giving he and his men weapons and training. Sometimes actions come back to bite you on the ass.
Pat Tillman may be a hero, but he isn't unique. John Kerry was one of the top students at Yale... could've had any job he wanted after graduation, but he chose to forgo the wealth to fight for his country.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:41:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm proud of Pat Tillman.
Nobody loves a soldier until the enemy is at the gate.
Submitted by Insanethemind (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:38:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I haven't heard about him yet, wow he walked away from the NFL and died in Iraq???
I wouldn't say all those things they said, but I also wouldnt necessarily think of fighting in Iraq a higher calling.
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2004-04-29 11:35:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Jason, many times when you give a donation you don't have a say in where it's going to be put to use.