This man was killed in Iraq last Thursday. He had asked a friend in the service to post this in case he was ever killed in action.
Here is an excerpt from his final post:
I do ask (not that I'm in a position to enforce this) that no one try to use my death to further their political purposes. I went to Iraq and did what I did for my reasons, not yours. My life isn't a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side. If you think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, don't drag me into it by claiming that somehow my death demands us staying in Iraq. If you think the U.S. ought to get out tomorrow, don't cite my name as an example of someone's life who was wasted by our mission in Iraq. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I'm not around to expound on them I'd prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn't support. Further, this is tough enough on my family without their having to see my picture being used in some rally or my name being cited for some political purpose. You can fight political battles without hurting my family, and I'd prefer that you did so.
I do hope people respect his wishes.
RIP Blogger/Soldier
3 comments:
Well, that was a sobering entry.
Imagine him writing that final entry wondering about its posting...
Farewell.
Terrible. We all have our own opinions but he's right - we should take a break from using the deaths for our personal agendas.
Anon - It is very sobering. I can't imagine being his wife and knowing he wrote this. However it is written like a person who felt like they were there on a mission and didn't begrudge the job. Of course, that's my take on it.
Ex - You are so right. We all need to take a break from using these deaths as an argument. A very good friend of mine lost her son on mother's day last year in Iraq. Her husband is a prominent professor and author and he has made some excellent arguments against the war. It enraged me to watch the media try to use his son's death as an argument. The man just wanted to mourn and they simply wouldn't let him.
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