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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36390-2004Apr23.html (reporting)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37982-2004Apr23.html (opinion)
and an article on two others just returned from Iraq to rest in Arlington http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37964-2004Apr23.html
I know that some people disagree, but I think the attention that's being paid to Tillman's death is entirely appropriate. He's a nationally known athlete, who gave up a multimilliondollar career because he decided that he needed to serve his country. He and his brother looked for positions appropriate to their abilities, found one of the most dangerous jobs they could take--being a Ranger--and volunteered for it. They never seem to have had any doubt that they did the right thing, and they actively avoided getting any credit or recognition for it because "they felt it would detract from the families and stories of other soldiers serving overseas".
I think that avoidance of praise was laudable, but I think the attention now is warranted. Whether you think the war in Afghanistan is a good thing or a bad thing, it is important (at least to me) to remind people that it's still going on, and that it has a cost. There are people who will not be moved by casualty figures when they are just numbers, but who will begin to apprecaite what they mean when the numbers are transslated into people they know or recognize. Whether you think military services is a good thing or a bad thing, I think it's worth celebrating and noting when someone of prominence and wealth gives that up to do what he or she believes is the right thing to do, what their country needs them to do.
Tillman's family "believes that everyone who has given their lives in the war deserves equal recognition for their sacrifice," Robert Setterlund, the assistant principal at San Jose's Leland High School said. "They don't want one person singled out." I respect that, but I also believe that Pat Tillman's choice is an example to others that deserves to be praised, and I think that can be done without valuing any less the sacrifice made by the others in the current wars who have died, or been wounded, or simply served and done their duty under difficult, unpleasant, and often hazardous circumstances.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37982-2004Apr23.html (opinion)
and an article on two others just returned from Iraq to rest in Arlington http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37964-2004Apr23.html
I know that some people disagree, but I think the attention that's being paid to Tillman's death is entirely appropriate. He's a nationally known athlete, who gave up a multimilliondollar career because he decided that he needed to serve his country. He and his brother looked for positions appropriate to their abilities, found one of the most dangerous jobs they could take--being a Ranger--and volunteered for it. They never seem to have had any doubt that they did the right thing, and they actively avoided getting any credit or recognition for it because "they felt it would detract from the families and stories of other soldiers serving overseas".
I think that avoidance of praise was laudable, but I think the attention now is warranted. Whether you think the war in Afghanistan is a good thing or a bad thing, it is important (at least to me) to remind people that it's still going on, and that it has a cost. There are people who will not be moved by casualty figures when they are just numbers, but who will begin to apprecaite what they mean when the numbers are transslated into people they know or recognize. Whether you think military services is a good thing or a bad thing, I think it's worth celebrating and noting when someone of prominence and wealth gives that up to do what he or she believes is the right thing to do, what their country needs them to do.
Tillman's family "believes that everyone who has given their lives in the war deserves equal recognition for their sacrifice," Robert Setterlund, the assistant principal at San Jose's Leland High School said. "They don't want one person singled out." I respect that, but I also believe that Pat Tillman's choice is an example to others that deserves to be praised, and I think that can be done without valuing any less the sacrifice made by the others in the current wars who have died, or been wounded, or simply served and done their duty under difficult, unpleasant, and often hazardous circumstances.
