Silent Night

The first paragraph of the story reads, “An Ohio soldier was killed in Iraq on Christmas Eve
when he was attacked by enemy forces, the Department of Defense announced Sunday.” This lost
soldier from Ohio is one of 2,168 who have died in Iraq. His death is no harder than all the
others, no less wrenching for his family. Somehow, however, this death on Christmas Eve
brought an extra twist of the knife for me, though I did not know the man and, now, never will.

I’m not sure why. Certainly I am thinking of his family, who found out the day before Christmas
that a beloved son was gone. I cannot even begin to imagine their sorrow. They experienced,
along with every other family of every soldier fighting over there, the fear of that knock on the
door, or that phone call, or that telegram. On Christmas Eve, the terrible message came. Santa
brought them a crisply folded American flag, and the thanks of a grateful nation. Christmas will
never be the same for them, ever. There are no words for this. None.

Perhaps I am also thinking about the much-ballyhooed “War on Christmas” we have been
hearing so much about of late. That foolishness may be over thanks to the rolling of calendar
pages, but the rank idiocy of it all will linger for a while. Anyone who attempts to genuinely
convince you that there is some sort of organized assault on Christmas is either astonishingly
stupid, irrevocably deluded, trying to sell you something, or trying to distract your attention from
something. As this is America in the waning days of 2005, it could very easily be all four.

In case you haven’t noticed, Christmas is doing just fine. Leave aside the fact that Jesus-shouting
hypocrites have managed to occupy every office of national significance and power. Leave aside
the fact that these Jesus-shouting hypocrites are celebrating Christmas along with a majority of
the country, said majority being comprised of entirely sane Christians who are wondering how
these benightened yahoos managed to steal their religion. Leave aside all the Christmas trees,
Christmas decorations, and advertisements for Christmas shopping opportunities that have
bombarded anyone dumb enough to turn on a television since early November.

This whole thing was ginned up by a fantastically wretched fool on the Fox News Channel
named John Gibson. He recently wrote a book titled - can you guess? - “The War on Christmas,”
and his network graciously agreed to beat the drum so he could sell his book.

Hm.

The only war on Christmas happening in the last week was fought by soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan who are away from family and in harm’s way, many for their second or third tours.

The war on Christmas this past week was fought by tens of thousands of soldiers who are
learning how to face life without an arm, without a leg, without eyes, without a face, with
permanent brain damage, and perhaps worst of all, with the prospect of diminished veterans
benefits because those benefits were cut by an administration that needs money to pay for the
production of more wounded soldiers.

The war on Christmas this past week was fought by tens of thousands of Iraqi families who have
had friends and loved ones killed, maimed or tortured.

The war on Christmas this past week was fought by tens of thousands of American families who
have friends and loved ones in harms way, or in a hospital, or six feet under the ground.

On Saturday night, the war on Christmas was fought by a family in Ohio who will never see their
beloved boy again.

On Sunday, the war on Christmas was fought by a friend of my mother named Frank, whose son
has been deployed to Iraq for the last year. He has remained mercifully unharmed, and is
scheduled to rotate home on Tuesday, December 27th. For Frank, his wife and their family, the
war on Christmas is represented by the slow passage of seconds, the agonizing awareness of the
gulf of time that stands between right now and his safety. Two days? An eternity. Just ask that
family from Ohio.

Cindy Sheehan fought the war on Christmas, passing the holiday without her beloved son Casey,
who was killed in Iraq. “Peace on earth is not just a platitude to sing about or stick on Christmas
cards,” she wrote in an email that came on Christmas Eve. “It is a value worth giving everything
for.”

Take a silent moment tonight and offer a thought or a prayer to that Ohio family. Take a silent
moment to offer a thought or prayer for the safe return of Frank’s son. Take a silent moment to
offer a thought or prayer to all the families for whom this Iraq occupation is more than fleeting
images on the television.

Take a silent moment and consider what you will do in the New Year, what you will give, to
bring about the peace on earth Cindy Sheehan spoke of.

It seems kind of rude not to give us his name. To forget or ignore the man's name seems the final indignity. I mean, what kind of message is "Rest in Peace, whats-your-name,,,"

I do not have the permission of that family to use his name. Several times in the past, I have printed the names of soldiers who have died in Iraq. Many times, I received emails from his/her family, asking me to take the name down. The lost child supported the war, or they don't want their child's name used to make a political statement, or the family just can't deal with the pain.

I don't question their wishes, and have for a while now avoided whenever possible using the names unless I have that permission.

Basically, I can live with the reality of you feeling like it is rude. I cannot live with the reality of a suffering family feeling it is rude.

If you need to know his name, Google is your friend. "soldier killed Christmas eve Ohio" under the Google News tab will get it done for you.

It just looked so weird.

But shouldn't you have their permission anyway? It is his life and his death you are using for your story. For everhone here it is just one more set of postings. For them, it was everything. Which, was, after all, your point.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

In the first place, I think that was something a bit more than "a rant."

In the second place ... hmmph.

Maybe you could find someplace else to visit. I don't think anyone will be offended. If you knew Will Pitt like we do you never would never make such an uncharitable comment. Now go wise up and read some of Pitt's essays. When you get yourself educated come back and try again. Oh...nevermind....don't bother!
Instead...get some lessons on learning how to be tactful. I promise you will have a lot more friends after you learn the proper way to word your comments.

Poor OP ccan't really win on this one. The family involved might not like thier son being used in this fashion so a s a courtesy (see Walt's reply) he dosn't use it. But then N00bs come around and wonder at the perceived insult of not remembering the soldiers name.



Also, there is this. http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/dec03/195510.asp



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The whole argument being made here is that the solder was a tool. But Walt here turns around and makes him his own tool.

Well, this guy was a major. What about the other Ohio KIA that day. His wife had this to say. The man's six year old son had no comment.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/noadsindex/iraqcasualties/vignettes34.html
What is the basis of your politics, if it is not the idea that each person is worthy of dignity and respect? Why should anyone listen or pay attention if you treat people in such a shabby manner? Is all dignity for me, and none for thee? Isn't that the basis for your dislike of Conservitivs is it is allways "Me me me" 24/365?:dilemma:

I think you are confused.

I was simply talking about your rude/hostel way of asking a question about Pitt's essay.
You could have asked very nicely...instead you chose to be rude...to make your own point.

By the way his name is William (Will), not Walt. I take it you didn't know he is a very popular and prolific well known Journalist...not just an every day average poster like you and me.

I am indeed just an everyday poster like you.

Not so much like the fellow in #1. ;)

including some of the OP's. GK had a legitimate point which was answered.

Too much piling on here. No point in eating each other alive over a disagreement about words. If we stick to our arguments without the personal judgements we usually can find common ground.

Move beyond any attachment to
names.
Every war and every conflict between
human beings
has happened because of some
disagreement about names.
It's such an unnecessary foolishness,
because just beyond the arguing
there's a long table of companionship,
set and waiting for us to sit down.
What is praised is one, so the praise is
one too,
many jugs being poured into a huge
basin.
All religions, all this singing, one song.
The differences are just illusion and
vanity.
Sunlight looks slightly different on this
wall than it does on that wall.
and a lot different on this other one,
but it is still one light.
We have borrowed these clothes,
these time-and-space personalities,
from a light,
and when we praise,
we pour them back in.

~Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi - 13th century~

That's what this is about, isn't it? Sounds to me like you think, that just because he left out the name, that there's a chance this could be a fabrication. Right?

I don't think you're really worried at all about any "final indignity".

When I read that two more had died today, I could only imagine the pain that their families must feel. To have those people come to your door and break your heart......it's too much.

I keep thinking of this line....I don't know where I heard it, but it says so much. "It's not to be borne".

How much longer?

I couldn't get the ICC page to load tonight. The cached version had 2,163. I will make the correction.

Thats what it is all about people.Another death.Where and when will it end??
What freedom has it brought to this country??
What price are you willing to pay??
Thank you so much for this post .If people dont get it then it is their loss.
I GET IT

times a day. I wasn't questioning your number, just mentally wailing that two more had died today. It really gets to me.

Thank you.

As usual.

I got to be the fifth vote. I'm sure there will be many more. Good one as usual.

I had it with my elderly republican parents this morning. Argh. I was so hoping to find them among the 30 percent who seemingly have pulled their heads out of the sand.

My war on christmas was a war of words. My parents could only parrot faux news. My family lives in Eastern Washington. Their newspaper this morning had an article about Katrina. The conversation that ensued at breakfast led to my attempt to gently tell them some facts.

They are 78 and 79 and have somehow bought the whole bu$h neocon package. They brought up clinis right away. Their disgust with Bill's morals far outweighs any possibility of looking for ethics violations in the present administration.

My war on christmas left me feeling guilty. I called and apologized for upsetting them when we got back home to the Seattle area. I had gone with all good intentions of a nice family visit. We had 26 family members gathered on Christmas Eve and it went fairly well. There were 7 dems and 8 republicans. The rest were children.

My mother finally admitted on the phone, that even though she abhors the fact that my husband and I are "PROTESTERS" (she says the word as though we were criminals) she still would bail us out of jail if she had to. That is love! And I love them, even though they are so WRONG!

It hurts!

She's over 80 and her health is bad -- she just can't take the strain of politics, even though (or even because) she hates Bush. I have to keep reminding myself to refrain from those letters/conversations.

And you know what the worst thing is? She is one of those little old ladies that's going to break down and cry over the new drug plan. She is convinced she will have almost NO medical insurance come January, because her previous Medi-gap provider dumped all the seniors a few years back, and now this crap with the drug plan has her saying things like "I'm uninsurable!!!!" I keep telling her to start corresponding with her Senator (Orrin Hatch, unfortunately) and Representative because they need to hear this. My sister and I will fly out in January to see what we can do about her life in general.

Sorry I got off on this tangent, but your mention of the age of your folks triggered it. I think -- and I'm sure you know this, too -- that they may be too old to change their minds, and I know upsetting them makes you feel lousy. They love you -- I mean, it's really love when they promise to bail you out even though you're a dangerous leftie. Just keep that image in mind! :hug:

Hekate

He is now an active member of Veterans for Peace. I printed the application the day of SHOCK and AWE and took it to him. They visit wounded soldiers at Madigan Hospital. He goes to all the meeting.

They are the same age as my parents. I find it astounding that their political views could be so different as they have lived through the same years.

It is the media .... My neighbors watch Democracy Now everyday. My parents watch Fox News.


I give up. My mouth will stay at the kennel, next time I go visit my parents. I talk with them every day on the phone, but I will keep it light.

Thanks for the advice, I needed it!

Well done!

been upset about the revelations that the administration spied on Americans, and yes, those are impeachable high crimes that threaten the very fabric of the Constitution, we must never forget that Bu$hco has real blood on its hands, American and Iraqi men, women and children in the thousands. Their blood is being shed for venal lust for power and wealth. William Pitt brings our focus back to what is important.

We have a war on terrorism, a war on drugs, a war on gas and economics, a war on prayer, school curriculum, and so on....

BushCo has stopped waging a war against us. They are now stirring up their religious base with these same distractions. And sadly, those on the left have remained inexcusably silent.

I am a firm believer in the separation of Church and State, because I want the government to get the FUCK out of Christianity. Until this government begins to support the poor, the unemployed, the under-educated, the victims of outsourcing and corporate greed, and the survivors of natural disasters, they have NO business getting anywhere near the name "Christian." And a government that supports the wealthy and the capitalistic greed of the rich is no better than the moneychangers in the Temple of Jesus' time on earth. If he were here today, I know exactly who he would be raging against, calling them a "brood of vipers."

/rant.