Dead soldiers in coffins: It seems so very odd to me...

[DemLikr]

...that in our society as a whole it is permissible to foment violence and war by means of deception, stubborness, and stupidity, at least if one holds the highest office in the land...

...that it is permissible to allow young, vibrant teenagers with entire lives ahead of them to be slaughtered and maimed...

...that it is, however, considered somehow in poor taste to show on television even the groomed and glorified exterior of a flag-shrouded box in which the government tells us their desecrated bodies lie...

...that our society and military, as evidenced by these "coffin photos," treat body parts with great respect, tenderness, and care ONCE THEY ARE FUCKING DEAD AND RENDERED TO DOG MEAT, when it no longer matters to the soul once housed there...

...that mothers and fathers of dead soldiers don't rise from their folding chairs at graveside funerals and spit in the faces of "honor guards" which emote such reverence for the dead and so little for the living...

...but then, dead soldiers wrapped in red, white and blue sun-sparkling shrouds CAN'T FUCKING TALK.

And it's all so much, well, less UNPLEASANT that way, don't you think?

[demnan]

1. It puzzled me that my father wanted that military funeral

when he hated the military all his life, particularly during his three helacious years on Guatal Canal and the 18 months my brother was in Viet Nam, but . . .

The military ritual for honoring the dead is a very emotional thing, a very dignified thing. It's what holds the military together.

Remember these wars are not caused by our military, they are always the policy mistakes of civilians above the level of the military. The military merely develop rituals to emotionally deal with the tragedy that results.

[Ilsa]

2. Do you think the expense of

calling for a military funeral was his way of sticking it to them one last time? I guess that isn't likely. More likely he wants to be honored for his sacrifice, and for his children to be the beneficiaries of that honor in the presence of others.

[rman]

3. "mistakes"?

'wars are policy mistakes'

Fortunate mistakes for war profiteers - the same people who are in positions to cause those "mistakes".
Coincidence of course; especially people in power could not possibly be that evil, even if it enriches them beyond their wildest dreams (though i'm probably underestimating their ability to dream).

[Jack from Charlotte]

7. My mother-in-law was burried at Arlington.............

as she preceeded her husband in death. He's a retired 3-war Air Force Col. who won a Silver Star along with a few DFC's and a shirt full of other medals.

The ceromony is as impressive as all get out. The "Old Guard" (Army) from Fort Meyers which is just the other side of the cemetery, performs the burial.

And if anyone wants some info re "The Old Guard" get that movie made in the 80's called "Garden's of Stone." There's a line in that movie by a sargent in the burial guard.... "I'm in the business of dying and business is good." It was made about Viet Nam times.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

4. dog meat?

n/t

[bloom]

5. Unfortunately

I'm afraid that all this publicity with the war dead will HELP Bush* and his war more than hurt it.




:puke:

[DemLikr]

6. I think you may be right, Bloom. Murkans are weird that way. n/t