Grieving ANTIWAR families Attacking The President(VANITY)

[ChemistCat]

VENTING

I am doing a 180 here, so don't cite me on the Elizabeth Smart threads. You're right, you could make it appear I'm contradicting myself. That was apples, this is oranges. This is one time I feel bitterly compelled to attack some grieving family members.

Apparently some family members of our valiant servicemen and women think their loved ones joined the military to get education benefits. I cannot imagine bitter family members attacking the President and getting airtime in WWII or Korean war times.

My church on occasion loses young missionaries to accidents. Like the military, every effort is made to prevent such loss of life, but statistically, it's going to happen when you send people anywhere to do anything! All the more so when there are weapons and violence involved as an intrinsic part of what is being done.

There is nothing a 19-year-old can DO that isn't risky, including living at home as a couch potato. The military's job is to kill people and break things, and I am furious!!!!! at anyone who would demean their child's decision to serve his country, and undermine the morale of those who still fight.

It's natural for a person to be angry as part of the grieving process, and the anti-war-liberal-media is taking advantage of that when they broadcast this particular reaction. It's not news that a grieving father is angry he lost his son. That he has sufficient lack of judgment to use that as a chance to attack our President is pathetic. Did this sort of person not think, when his son joined the military AFTER 9/11, that there might be some real risk? Did he not realize that his SON was saying THE RISK IS WORTH IT when he voluntarily enlisted?

Were we drafting, I'd feel differently, but every man and woman who is serving volunteered. The educational bennies would not suffice for anyone who didn't fundamentally believe in serving his or her country. It's an insult to the dead to pretend they thought the military's mission was to keep them safe and get them that BA.

[CavScoutNC]

The man is lashing out at his lost. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail in this matter and the liberal media will not exploit his pain anymore.

[TrueBeliever9]

As the mother of a former Marine (Recon) I can only say that the families who attack the Commander in Chief greatly dishonor their loved ones. I believe those loved ones would be humiliated to hear their families attack their Commander in Chief.

[MissEdie]

Great Post!! Even though it is tragic that lives are lost during a war, it's the nature of the beast. Someone needs to remind those family members attacking our President that NO ONE forced their son to join the armed services.

[Chi-townChief]

I saw the father on TV and, although I really can't put myself in his position, his attack on the President almost seemed like a call-out for a visit from some of our high-profile anti-war dems. Once again, in the same sitution I don't know how I'd act and I sincerely hope that I am totally wrong about this man's reasoning.

[Theyknow]

The families aren’t demeaning their children’s decision as much as the decision made to pursue the war. They are grieving and have a political opinion. There is nothing wrong with them exercising their right to free speech. By definition free speech is divergent opinions. We don’t have to agree with them, but they have every right to express their opinions in this way.

[Magnolia]

Touché! Outstanding rant!

[Theyknow]

“families who attack the Commander in Chief greatly dishonor their loved ones.”

To understand the families position imagine that the Commander in Chief was Clinton and otherwise the statements were identical. Would you then believe that the loved ones were dishonored? These families feel as strongly about President Bush as we did about Clinton, there is no difference in the emotions. Respect for the Presidency is lost, sadly, by both sides of the political spectrum.

[sinkspur]

We don’t have to agree with them, but they have every right to express their opinions in this way.

Their children proved to be better human beings than their parents.

[TrueBeliever9]

My son served under Clinton! I have no respect for Clinton - and I had no respect for him when my son was serving under him. I can't really go into that - suffice it to say - if my son had been lost to me - I still would not have dishonored my son's service by disrespecting the Commander in Chief.

[sinkspur]

To understand the families position imagine that the Commander in Chief was Clinton and otherwise the statements were identical. Would you then believe that the loved ones were dishonored?

What difference does it make who the president is? The military does what the commander-in-chief tells them to. I should hope their motivations don't shift with the elections.

I've only heard one family member trash Bush. The rest have more discretion, or they understand whtat being in the military means.

[CyberAnt]

You got it - how much were they humiliated and demoralized by the attacks on x42 - even though x42 deserved the attacks.

[Lx]

The father is obviously crushed by such a loss. He can say what he wants and it won't make me think less of him.

Having said that, the media totally disgusts me. There's nothing they love better than to thrust a mic and camera in some grieving family member's face. They have absolutely no shame. Anything to get a 'scoop'. I always change the channel when they do something as low as that.
Fargin bastages.

[Theyknow]

But if someone had been so disrespectful, would it have outraged you? Do you think that There continues to be respect for the Presidency? IMO it is entirely gone. The left has no more respect for President Bush than the right did for Clinton. This is a sad but true fact.

[mountaineer]

I believe the father in Baltimore later said that he was speaking out of grief, and said sometimes in the heat of the moment people say things they didn't mean. In any event, I thank him for the sacrifice his fine son made.

[old school]

When did Clinton ever send troops into combat for any good reason? And don't gimme Bosnia because I think that's B.S.!

[TrueBeliever9]

Because of my love and respect for my son - I NEVER discussed Clinton with him during his service. I had very strong feelings (of utter distrust and dislike for Clinton). But I made a concerted effort to never engage my son in conversation about Clinton. I always focused on my son contributing honorably to America through his service.

[Violette]

I haven't found the media to be that liberal. I have been watching CBS and Ted Koppel has been extremely supportive of our presence there. Additionally, CNN seems to be quite objective. MSNBC however I find to be more left.

[Republican Party Reptile]

To understand the families position imagine that the Commander in Chief was Clinton and otherwise the statements were identical. Would you then believe that the loved ones were dishonored? These families feel as strongly about President Bush as we did about Clinton, there is no difference in the emotions. Respect for the Presidency is lost, sadly, by both sides of the political spectrum.

Somalia, didn't one of the dead Ranger's father absolutely slammed Bill Clinton for his son's death?

Of course, in that case, many on FR happened to agreed with the father's opinion.

So the question is, is it OK for the family to blame the individual President / CiC for the misfortunes of war that's visited upon them - assuming it's viewed and expressed through the prism of individual opinion of the decisions and policies of the individual POTUS, therefore not really directed at the institution or honor of the office of the President and the armed forces ... as opposed to directing the anger at the office of the President and the armed forces in general?

[eggman]

Let's put the blame where it belongs. Squarely on the media for sticking a camera in the face of this man shortly after he had been notified of the loss of his only son. The media then used this man's anger and grief to promote their agenda.

This man will come to realize that his own words were used to besmirch the cause his son gave his life for.