He was not more important than anyone else who joined the service. Indeed, it would be rather obscene to say so, and I'm quite certain he would agree.
But he did do something most men wouldn't do: He walked away from a multimillion dollar NFL contract in order to enlist, and to fight with the Army Rangers, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on our nation.
He was also killed in combat in Afghanistan last night.
I grieve for the Tillman family.
And, compared to Pat Tillman, what can I do or say? Well, I can stop complaining about being tired, or broke, for starters.
I can also mention this again.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered:
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
I like your perspective. What can I do? Makes your own selfish daily routines seem lame. Or mine I should say. We all need to give more.
What can I do, what can I say to help.
I am alone these days and I do not feel very good physically. I start my day with thanks for each and every part of my body that does feel good. I then count my blessings which of course is the parts of me that are doing rather good. I then pray for my immediate family and my friends. I even have many of you in my prayers as well.
Since 9-11 my perspective about life changed me as it did many of you. I was really sad and at times really scared. I still have a very hard time with the question we all ask. Why did those terrorist decide they were going to attack us. What drives a human being into such horrific acts of violence? What drew these people to not only want to kill us but also kill themselves knowing full well they were going to die. We all wonder this.
A soldier was killed yesterday and he did it for me. Yes, I do take each and every death of a soldier very seriously and personally. That soldier is allowing me to get up each day and count my blessings. We have the freedom to do that. We have the freedom to believe in God or not believe in God. We have the freedom to speak out in any form we choose. Verbally or in our written words.
I have given a small donation to the Spirit of America and I feel very very good about that decision. That decision is also a freedom.
This cause, this drive in asking for money is a very very good charity. That ole' sayin' about charity is surely a good sayin', That charity begins at home. When you take that ole' sayin' apart and question what does it mean, that it begins at Home. Well, to me it means in this case by giving, children in Iraq and Afganistan, will hear on the radio and television people in America care about them and that sure brings *giving* charity, it simply brings it home. From my home to your home to their homes... Charity starts from home. I so dearly love my simple home and my great big home of the good ole' United States of America. Isn't that a pretty set of words. We fought many evil doers to have that most precious precious set of words by Uniting what we hold dear.
My thoughts are with this fine soldier and his family. We sure grow wonderful men in Our Country we call, America. They have put aside some of there dreams like this young man. Left an NFL contract and loved ones to defend us and protect our freedoms, our loved ones. That is powerful, that is outstanding, that is absolutely something to admire each and every soldier for. My God, I Salute Them!
Thank you so very very much goes out to all my soldiers. Yes, they are mine and they are yours too.
Well, if you do want to do something, there is the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They are the unpaid civilian volunteers that assist the Coast Guard in its non-military, non-law enforcement public safety missions.
www.cgaux.org
They're always looking for help.
Mike
Not to politicize this man's death, but, the fact that he voluntarily walked away from more money than most of us will ever see, so he could serve his country in the armed forces--well, I hope this helps put to death the snotty notion amoung some "intellectuals" that the only people who join the service are "poor folks" with "no economic opportunity."
But then again, given the ivory tower in which these worthless people live in, I'm sure this concrete example of how full of crap they are about this issue will be lost on them. After all, it's because they helped demonize the military and kick ROTC off campuses that there aren't MORE upper-class folks in the service.
Aren't you glad that there are people like Tim Swanson in this world? He signs up for the military a few months before 9/11, and then all of a sudden becomes a 'conscientious objector' when he is called to do what he signed up for. And then he craps all over a thread dedicated to a dead soldier willing to do what his pussy self wouldn't.
It muse be great to be Tim Swanson.
Good grief that Tim Swas is awful, sickening to the core. Michelle took him down with out using one swear word. Ya see, we don't have to use them when we write. Good for smits too.
Tillman is a hero, and I thank God for him and the stars that shine bright at night for us.
I guess what I mean to say is the english language has a wealth of words that let people know something is vile to you like tim swas, a real jackass. This guy is so limp and a disquisting pig. Jackass is really in this creeps attitude is meant to mean his existance is putrid. Man if that name shows up in Dean's World, all the demons in hell will break lose.