Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Their Day: Honoring the victims of the Brink's robbery.
Opinion Journal ^ | 4/30/04

Posted on 05/01/2004 11:20:15 AM PDT by Valin

In any earthly accounting it will never add up. At 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, the U.S. Post Office in Nyack, N.Y., will be renamed in honor of the two police officers and one security guard killed in the murderous 1981 Brink's robbery. As impressive as the honor is, surely it sadly pales next to the gift of freedom the New York parole board recently bestowed on one of the radical Weather Underground members convicted in the crime, Kathy Boudin.

The fallen men were Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady, Police Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown and Brink's security officer Peter Paige--military vets all. No doubt the quarter-century that has passed since their deaths has dimmed the collective memory of their sacrifice. Then again, that memory has been recently aroused by today's struggle against a new breed of anti-American fanatics who also do not scruple over the cost in innocent life that their "ideals" may impose. Like the recent death of athlete-turned-soldier Pat Tillman, moreover, tomorrow's dedication ought to remind us of the special risks assumed by those who carry a gun and place themselves between us and those who would do us harm.

(snip)

But this day is not about Ms. Boudin. It is about the sacrifice of these men. Sometimes the question is asked why a policeman's life should be "worth" more than others'. The answer is that it isn't. But the murder of a peace officer is more than the killing of an individual: It is also an assault on the legal order of the community. Traditionally we have understood that the penalties ought to be commensurately greater. As should the tribute. Plainly we live in an America where there exists a new respect for those in uniform. Tomorrow is their day in Nyack. Undoubtedly it will be a day of tears. It should also be a day of pride.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; US: New York
KEYWORDS: brinksrobbery; kathyboudin; weatherunderground

1 posted on 05/01/2004 11:20:16 AM PDT by Valin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Valin
bump
2 posted on 05/01/2004 11:22:21 AM PDT by RippleFire ("It was just a scratch")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Valin

Maybe I'll send a wreath...


3 posted on 05/01/2004 11:30:11 AM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
"And a campaign seeking signatures for her release reaped a bumper crop of writers, activists, professors and celebrities. Though many offered their "deepest respect and sympathy" to the families of the dead, we suspect that few will join them in Nyack tomorrow."
4 posted on 05/01/2004 11:53:01 AM PDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Valin
I recently had the misfortune of watching The Weather Underground, a production of Independent Lens aired on PBS. The show was mostly interesting for the shocking lack of remorse, perspective or embarrassment on the part of the participants, who included Bernadine Dohrn, her husband Bill Ayers and Kathy Boudin's husband David Gilbert. Another interesting aspect, though, was the rhetorical restraint the participants practice today as compared to the asinine rhetoric they employed in their salad days. If there was ever any doubt that the language of the 60s was nothing more than the immature fashion of teenagers, this show removed it.

But I'm posting to display the self-authored blurb David Gilbert uses on the Independenet Lens website. Here it is:

David Gilbert: When the organization [the Weather Underground] dismantled, Gilbert joined the Black Liberation Army and plunged deeper into revolutionary violence. He is currently serving a life sentence in New York’s Attica Correctional Facility for his role in a 1981 robbery gone awry (italics added), committed with his wife and fellow ex-Weatherman Kathy Boudin.

Gilbert still doesn't have the cojones to admit that he killed those men because he had a gun in the commission of a crime. He was prepared to kill. If you prepare in advance for some eventuality, it's dishonest to later claim that if that eventuality comes to pass it's because the plan "went awry."

5 posted on 05/01/2004 12:00:28 PM PDT by beckett
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beckett
The show was mostly interesting for the shocking lack of remorse, perspective or embarrassment on the part of the participants, who included Bernadine Dohrn, her husband Bill Ayers and Kathy Boudin's husband David Gilbert.

Lets not forget Kathleen Soliah aka Sara Jane Olson aka Our little terrorist aka prisoner #349-221-634.

6 posted on 05/01/2004 12:25:11 PM PDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: All
Recently someone claiming to be a HS student doing a "turn paper" asked Freepers for help understanding why conservatives call mainstream liberals communists.

Here's why. "Political prisoner" Ms Boudin will be welcomed back with open arms and celebrated for her literary and humane accomplishments while suffering in prison. Larry King, Ophra, 60 Minutes, universities -- Hollywood! It's all her's from now on.

Already one of her comrades, "former political prisoner and activist Susan Rosenberg," has been accepted as a "human" rights activist and a spokesperson for women suffering behind bars in American prisons. A couple of fellow ideologues in powerful positions rescued her from prison three years ago.

From a CNN news story of August 22, 2001.

"Another suspect in that same armored car robbery, Susan Rosenberg, spent 16 years in prison on unrelated explosives and weapons charges. She was granted clemency by President Clinton on January 20 [2001]."

No money changed hands to get the clemency says Susan's mother Bella Rosenberg. "He decided the case on its merits." I believe her. See WND article.

Arrested for carrying 740 pounds of dynamite and other weapons for the Weather Underground in 1984 her sentence, her mainstream supporters argue, was extreme because she was believed to be connected to the killings but it was easier to send her away for a long time over those little ol' dynamite and weapons thingies.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21871

RE: Sara Jane Olson

As I recall the few articles I read about the case of the murder of Myrna Opsahl suggested that had her family not stuck with her memory and insisted on justice, Ms Olson and the others would have gone free. All had become "respected" members of society and seemed to be accepted by the mainstream and most authorities as former radicals. They had become "soccer moms," successful businessmen and women, and university professors.

So, young man doing the "turn" paper, does that help answer your question?

7 posted on 05/01/2004 12:57:12 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (Benedict Arnold was a hero for both sides in the same war, too!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson