A Life, Wasted - Let's Stop This War Before More Heroes Are Killed

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, January 3, 2006 | Paul E. Schroeder

[kristinn]

Early on Aug. 3, 2005, we heard that 14 Marines had been killed in Haditha, Iraq. Our son, Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II, was stationed there. At 10:45 a.m. two Marines showed up at our door. After collecting himself for what was clearly painful duty, the lieutenant colonel said, "Your son is a true American hero."

Since then, two reactions to Augie's death have compounded the sadness.

At times like this, people say, "He died a hero." I know this is meant with great sincerity. We appreciate the many condolences we have received and how helpful they have been. But when heard repeatedly, the phrases "he died a hero" or "he died a patriot" or "he died for his country" rub raw.

SNIP

Though it hurts, I believe that his death -- and that of the other Americans who have died in Iraq -- was a waste. They were wasted in a belief that democracy would grow simply by removing a dictator -- a careless misunderstanding of what democracy requires. They were wasted by not sending enough troops to do the job needed in the resulting occupation -- a careless disregard for professional military counsel.

But their deaths will not be in vain if Americans stop hiding behind flag-draped hero masks and stop whispering their opposition to this war. Until then, the lives of other sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers may be wasted as well.

This is very painful to acknowledge, and I have to live with it. So does President Bush.

The writer is managing director of a trade development firm in Cleveland.

[CyberAnt]

So I suppose they would feel the same about the hundreds of thouands of young men and women who lost their lives in WWII ..?? Sad .. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE - IT HAS A PRICE - their son's life was not wasted.

[Frank_2001]

Well stated!

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

We have an all-volunteer force.....this guy's argument is (or should have been) with his son.

[kristinn]

From Hardball just last month:

PAUL SCHROEDER, SON KILLED IN IRAQ:  Well, our initial reaction, our initial position, is that both the Democrats and the Republicans in Congress and with the administration, need to put aside their partisan bickering and sit down and come up with a bipartisan plan with clear benchmarks on how best to get us out of Iraq.  And how best to do that so we don't have to go back to some wider conflict down the road.  That's the whole point of "Families of the Fallen for Change."

MATTHEWS:  What is the key thing you want to see done before we leave?  What's the main accomplishment that says, "OK, now we can leave?"

SCHROEDER:  Well, I would say security for the Iraqi people.  And Iraq not falling into the throes of a civil war.

[SkyDancer]

This guy would have pulled our troops out of France the second day after D-Day, or Iwo Jima, or Okinawa .... what an idiot ....

(my humble opinion)

[KeyLargo]

Although I feel sorry for these two parents, they are in fact part of the Cindy Sheehan anti-war movement.

Go to:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4161898.stm

[oldbrowser]

The Ohio couple have long opposed the war and tried to dissuade their son from joining the Marines, but have made their views public only since his death.

Starting from their point of view there is nothing that can be said to them to make them feel better.

They are selfishly dishonoring their son's personal choice to promote their personal opinion which is the opposite of their son's.

[W04Man]

Good Catch....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Same traitors, different war.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

"And how best to do that so we don't have to go back to some wider conflict down the road."

so, he DOES retain some objectivity, yes? (I'm not sure if I'm being sarcastic......this is a reasonable statement)

[Lee'sGhost]

"In addtion to all the other arguments.... does it never occur to these people that far more lives would be lost with a premature retreat that would totally embolden Al Quaida and plunge Iraq into civil war?"

Those are worthless throwaway people, though, don't cha know?

[steelcurtain]

Their son obviously disagreed with them. It's reprehensible that they use his sacrifice to push their agenda.

I agree. They dishonor his memory.

[xzins]

Thanks.

[Swiss]

The parents need to spend a week each in both North Korea and South Korea to see what American soldiers do for freedom.

[kristinn]

Families of the Fallen for Change

[PzLdr]

Since when is dying for your country a "waste"?

MACV, Class of '71

[Rummyfan]

Mr Schroeder is an .... idiot! These people better realize that (1) we are staying in Iraq till the job is done and (2) we are going to maintain some presence forever. Why don't they ever bitch and moan about our troops in Germany? In Japan? In Korea? sixty years after hostilities have ceased.

[bubman]

Thank God men like this were not leading the revolutionary war against the british. Granted the American revolution was one of self-determination but even so one must understand that this war was not thrust upon the US nor did the US seek it out. Free men must accept the idea that some will die so others can be free. His son died for what he believed was a noble cause. This poor man must be torn between the idealism of a noble cause which his son died for against his sense of self-preservation at all cost including compromising his concept of what freedom is and what it costs to preserve it.

The Washington Post as a assumed arbiter of what constitutes noble American idealism has indirectly laid bare it's position against the war by capitalizing this poor man deeply personal experience.

The Compost believes through it's hightened sense of self-importance that NO objective (however noble it may be) can be justified in the spilling of American blood. We are to assume the victim stance that so encapsulates the prevailing wisdom of Liberals, as if perpetrators of violence are themselves victims thus must be viewed through that prism. Liberalism has elated lassitude to a virtue to justify it's inability fight for any noble cause. Including one where Marines die so other can be free

Semper Fi

[Petronski]

Though it hurts, I believe that his death -- and that of the other Americans who have died in Iraq -- was a waste.

I bet this guy's son--the hero--disagrees with him.

[USS Alaska]

"The Ohio couple have long opposed the war and tried to dissuade their son from joining the Marines, but have made their views public only since his death."

Their son gave up his life so that his lefty parents could defile his honor. What sorry POS. Heros and cowards.