[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Boy Thomas Raker wrote: [/QUOTENAME] Pat Tillman's commanding officers, men he looked to for guidance and judgment, all spun a false story (during a bad news week for the government re: the war in Iraq and Afghanistan) about the ultimate American hero who gave up millions of dollars and fame only to die at the hands of terrorists while serving his country. This story was a lot more palatable than saying he was shot by his own troops, so the powers that be lied and stonewalled to protect themselves, to hell with his memory or his family. That's disgraceful. [/QUOTE]
It is disgraceful - what they did with Tillman's story as well as with Jessica Lynch's story. After she was rescued, people wanted to know 'what happened to her' and the country was fed only bits and pieces - just enough to make us sick about what might have been done to this young female soldier. Then we were told further details couldn’t be released because she had amnesia. Her father, soon after, clearly stated she in fact did not have amnesia.
She spoke out right after (before?) Kevin Tillman at the hearing. Both tales were articulate and emotional. In Jessica Lynch’s testimony, she said they didn't have to try to make her into a hero since there were already heroes to talk about. Those heroes were the people with her who all perished.
It seems we were lied to because the powers that be thought the American people needed to identify with those giving their lives for the cause. Public opinion was already waning. What better way to join us together as one than to tell us about a lovely young all-American girl in enemy hands? Or about a man of integrity who gave up millions to fight for our country? Surely, after hearing what the 'enemy' did to these exceptional people, American's would pump their fists in the air and demand justice. We'd reverse our stance on the war so quickly we'd suffer whiplash. If we learned Lynch's weapon jammed before she got off a shot or that Tillman was killed by friendly fire, we would have further despaired at the war results thus far and pulled yet more of our support. Calling us unpatriotic wasn't enough to get us to say we supported the war, so they painted a 'romantic' war story for us figuring that falsehood, that trickery, would be enough to change the collective opinion... as if the opinion of the American people mattered in the least.
Here's what I thought was a powerful piece by Kevin Tillman, written in October of '06 -
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday
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Propaganda.
Nothing new to the world. How do you think Germany convinced it's citizens that Jews were evil and need to be controlled?
I'm a big fan of the NFL and everyone who is followed this story from his imployment. This is a sad story, but as a fairly intellegent human being who knows a little about human history, it's nothing that hasn't happened before. If you looked into military records of all Armies since the dawn of time, you'd find some pretty sick stuff.
But I do know one thing. And this is because I have an actual cassette tape that was brought back from the Desert Storm days. Arab children listen to recorded lies about The West. Not just the US, but all Western civilizations. About how we kill arabian children for sport. Enslave them in our countries. Again, some pretty sick stuff. And they play it over and over and over.
So, with all that said, what's the point of this thread? Yes, it's truly sad that we tried to paint Tillman as a hero who died defending his beliefs. (Remember this millionaire enlisted!!!) But in reality, that's exactly what happened. It's just in this day and age we want all the bloody details.
Pat Tillman wasn't the first soldier this has happened to. He simply was the highest profile in that category.
If the Tillman family was told the true nature of his death, would that make it any easier on them? The reason it's painful now for them is because WE WON'T LET HIM DIE. We want to hold someone accountable.
You think it's any easier for the soldier who accidently killed his brother in the confusion of war?
After reading that Kevin Tillman article, I feel sorry for Kevin Tillman, because he is one sorry individual. His brother's death has consumed him. From day 1, there was doubt on the legitimacy of this invasion, yet he went. Had his brother not died, that letter would never even be in his mind. Glad he's not defending my country anymore.
Also remember the reports about how abusive the Tillmans were to their fellow soldiers. One article even suggested this was payback.
Nothing new to the world. How do you think Germany convinced it's citizens that Jews were evil and need to be controlled?
I'm a big fan of the NFL and everyone who is followed this story from his imployment. This is a sad story, but as a fairly intellegent human being who knows a little about human history, it's nothing that hasn't happened before. If you looked into military records of all Armies since the dawn of time, you'd find some pretty sick stuff.
But I do know one thing. And this is because I have an actual cassette tape that was brought back from the Desert Storm days. Arab children listen to recorded lies about The West. Not just the US, but all Western civilizations. About how we kill arabian children for sport. Enslave them in our countries. Again, some pretty sick stuff. And they play it over and over and over.
So, with all that said, what's the point of this thread? Yes, it's truly sad that we tried to paint Tillman as a hero who died defending his beliefs. (Remember this millionaire enlisted!!!) But in reality, that's exactly what happened. It's just in this day and age we want all the bloody details.
Pat Tillman wasn't the first soldier this has happened to. He simply was the highest profile in that category.
If the Tillman family was told the true nature of his death, would that make it any easier on them? The reason it's painful now for them is because WE WON'T LET HIM DIE. We want to hold someone accountable.
You think it's any easier for the soldier who accidently killed his brother in the confusion of war?
After reading that Kevin Tillman article, I feel sorry for Kevin Tillman, because he is one sorry individual. His brother's death has consumed him. From day 1, there was doubt on the legitimacy of this invasion, yet he went. Had his brother not died, that letter would never even be in his mind. Glad he's not defending my country anymore.
Also remember the reports about how abusive the Tillmans were to their fellow soldiers. One article even suggested this was payback.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Boy Thomas Raker wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Microwave, Haystacks Calhounski, long time no political debate.!
WTF, I'm wasting my breath here, and I've already stated this has nothing to do with America, and everything to do with abuse of power, but HOLY FUCK!!! You guys will die to defend your rights to bear arms, but don't give a shit if the government tramples all over every right that a man defending his country has earned? One of the great "we need guns" defences many American's make is they mistrust government owning all the guns. So people don't trust their government enough to give up their arms, but hey, if they want to lie about a soldier's death, that's cool, we trust their hearts are in the right place, greater good, collateral damage etc. This has nothing to do with media, or America, it's about your expectations from people in authority, and leadership. The people who asked Pat Tillman to lay down his life for his country, basically shit down his throat, pissed on his grave and told his family to go fuck themselves. I know you two are patriots, but, God forbid, if you are ever killed I'd hope your families would learn the truth, not have the police, or church, or government lie to them to cover their asses. Shit like this leads to a slippery slope for citizens. When an American agent comes to your door to seize your handguns as they've monitored your e-mails about gun control on QZ, I hope you'll accept their abuse of power graciously. [/QUOTE]
Fantastic post.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]magicalfreddiemercury wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Here's what I thought was a powerful piece by Kevin Tillman, written in October of '06 -
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday
[/QUOTE]
^ Equally fantastic.
WTF, I'm wasting my breath here, and I've already stated this has nothing to do with America, and everything to do with abuse of power, but HOLY FUCK!!! You guys will die to defend your rights to bear arms, but don't give a shit if the government tramples all over every right that a man defending his country has earned? One of the great "we need guns" defences many American's make is they mistrust government owning all the guns. So people don't trust their government enough to give up their arms, but hey, if they want to lie about a soldier's death, that's cool, we trust their hearts are in the right place, greater good, collateral damage etc. This has nothing to do with media, or America, it's about your expectations from people in authority, and leadership. The people who asked Pat Tillman to lay down his life for his country, basically shit down his throat, pissed on his grave and told his family to go fuck themselves. I know you two are patriots, but, God forbid, if you are ever killed I'd hope your families would learn the truth, not have the police, or church, or government lie to them to cover their asses. Shit like this leads to a slippery slope for citizens. When an American agent comes to your door to seize your handguns as they've monitored your e-mails about gun control on QZ, I hope you'll accept their abuse of power graciously. [/QUOTE]
Fantastic post.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]magicalfreddiemercury wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Here's what I thought was a powerful piece by Kevin Tillman, written in October of '06 -
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday
[/QUOTE]
^ Equally fantastic.
Lies, fabrications and misinformation.
Can that honestly surprise anyone? I mean, ever since the Bush-administration decided it'd be fun to bomb Kabul, we've had more of that than we've had hot dinners!
Can that honestly surprise anyone? I mean, ever since the Bush-administration decided it'd be fun to bomb Kabul, we've had more of that than we've had hot dinners!