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It is a sad day when one man lays down his life for what he believed in and another so lacks the common decency of showing respect for a dead countryman who gave all in the service of our nation. If anything Ranger Pat Tillman grows in the respect and honor of his fellow Americans who will remember that he carried out the words of our founding fathers who pledged "Our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor". Tillman was a man who deserves our praise and what ever accolades we can bestow on one who has already achieved all. Remember the words "No greater love" and "to lay down his life". By God, I hope I would have the guts to stand up and be counted when my turn to face death comes. On the other hand, what can anyone say about the weasel who who speaks ill of the dead? Moral coward sounds close. Perhaps the most damning might be the very old fashioned but somehow, at least to me, appropriate reference, "I do not know hin, he is no gentleman". I believe the implications are sufficiently eloquent. I trust this persons fellow students will also come to the conclusion that they also do not know him, he is no gentleman. In England it was called being sent into coventry. At West Point it was known as Silenceing. It amounts to the same, we do not know him, therefore we do not acknowledge his existance.
As I said in another post, the words of Henry V seem very right to apply here.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he who sheds his blood with me this day shall henceforth be my brother.
As a fellow soldier I would be humbly honored to call Pat Tillman my brother. One thing for certain, I will honor my brother's memory.
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