Signs celebrating deaths of Saddam's sons criticized

KnoxNews.com ^ | July 30, 2003 | AP

[Reagan is King]

Signs celebrating deaths of Saddam's sons criticized By Associated Press July 30, 2003

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - State-hired paving contractors say they were being patriotic when they posted the words "Odai and Qusai dead - way to go 101st" on two electronic message boards.

But some found the roadside messages about the deaths of Saddam Hussein's sons offensive rather than inspiring.

"Our soldiers are not members of a sports team to be rooted for," Roberta Halgrim of Adams told The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper. "They are not gladiators. They are our protectors, and they are willing to pay the ultimate price for peace, not bragging rights."

Eubanks Asphalt Paving and Sealing had been using the signs to alert motorists about lane closings during the last few weeks while workers repaved an eight-mile stretch of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and Guthrie Highway.

Employees with the Charlotte-based company changed the wording on two signs Friday morning after it was reported Hussein's sons had been killed in an attack by 101st Airborne troops.

One sign was near the St. Bethlehem Elementary School, and the other near a Wal-Mart store.

Michael Eubanks said the company was trying to show its support for the military community and the 101st Airborne Division.

"It didn't say 'throw a party,"' Eubanks said. "How many Americans have died because of these people? We didn't mean any offense. We were just trying to be patriotic."

David Baron said he understands the desire to show support for the military community at Fort Campbell, but said the sign was in poor taste.

"Granted, these men were responsible for atrocities against the Iraqi people and for attacking U.S. troops, but to place such a sign in front of an elementary school is very upsetting to me," Baron said. "I simply do not see the need to celebrate the loss of any human life. After all, in doing so, we are no better than those we are fighting against."

By Sunday evening, the signs were no longer needed to alert motorists of lane closings and were being packed up, Eubanks said.

Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation called Monday to request the messages be changed before they realized the signs already were changed.

The state hired the company for $749,679 for the project.

The signs belong to the company and were not bought with money from this project.

Eubanks said he is surprised the company's intentions were misunderstood.

"We are an all-American company," he said. "I think the 101st does a good job, and we feel sorry for their loved ones who go day to day worrying about the soldiers, not knowing what they are up against."

[Reagan is King]

"Our soldiers are not members of a sports team to be rooted for," Roberta Halgrim of Adams told The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper.

Oh, stuff a sock in it Roberta. I say good job 101st and thanks to Eubanks Asphalt for putting it up there!

[ladyinred]

What in the hell is wrong with people in this country? These were monsters!!!! I fear for our country, I really do, no sense of right and wrong anymore. They are getting as evil as the very terrorists we fight against.

[WOSG]

Why is it more valid to root for a sports team than FOR YOUR COUNTRY'S DEFENDERS???!??!

Nuts!!

[skr]

I guess the critics wouldn't have appreciated using those electronic message boards to announce Hitler's death either.

[cartoonistx]

Absolutely! I nominate your question for the hall of fame. It sez it all!

[Paleo Conservative]

I guess the critics wouldn't have appreciated using those electronic message boards to announce Hitler's death either.

The Irish government actually sent condolences to the NAZI government.

[dsutah]

What bugs me is that these people don't want anyone to celebrate a victory, anymore! They are always so afraid of offending people! Who are they afraid of offending, the Iraqis themselves? Heck no! They'd probably be down there en-masse, helping them make the sign!

The only ones offended, would be the ones who wish us harm! And just how many of them are going to come out and complain, even if they wanted to? It's more than likely that they are afraid of the ACLU, and the anti-American leftist elites, coming to get them!

[Reagan is King]

I don't understand how you can live in this great country and hate much of what it stands for like these left-wing freaks do.

Unfortunately the enemy within is becoming a greater threat to our security than any external foe. It's not just liberal versus conservative anymore, it's American versus anti-American right on our own soil and it's getting worse. Bush and the Iraq war has really flushed them out into the open.

[Jay D. Dyson]

Maybe the sign should have read:
"CAUTION: CLUELESS LIBERAL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO B!TCH ABOUT."

That would just about cover that moron's presence...

-Jay

[skr]

Oh my, I didn't know that. Hmmmm, I wonder how many of our present-day journalists might be descendants of those Irish government officials?

[kayak]

These liberals are simply unreal!

[McGavin999]

What a great company! I think what they did was wonderful.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Oh for Pete's sake. How STUPID can some people get????????

[boxerblues]

Its not like the members of the Screaming Eagles were out there flashing the sign, they are not the puking buzzards.

[Tamzee]

Odai and Qusai dead - way to go 101st

It bears repeating :-)

Thanks to Eubanks for putting up the message and promoting the admiration and respect that our incredible troops deserve!

[ETERNAL WARMING]

WTG Paving Contractors! Keep up the good work.

[First Amendment]

"I simply do not see the need to celebrate the loss of any human life. After all, in doing so, we are no better than those we are fighting against."

Total crap. As I posted before on this topic, ancient wisdom says: Even saints are happy when snakes and scorpions are killed.

This refers to poison people! Anyone with a drop of the milk of human kindness in their veins was happy when the two Hussein bros were killed! This above is just false goody-goodyism posing as real morality. I wonder if the stoopid person who said it is pro-life...

[Consort]

These were monsters

"Odai and Qusai were monsters." would have been a better sign, IMO.

[L.N. Smithee]

The Irish government actually sent condolences to the NAZI government.

Source?

[Paleo Conservative]

I can't remember where I read it, but how about an article in the Irish Times by Robert Fisk?

Here's a Google search that should reference even more articles.