Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Honoring a soldier

Ron Edmonds / Associated Press
President Bush looks on after presenting the Medal of Honor to Tom, left,
and Romayne McGinnis, the parents of Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa.

President Chimpy awarded a Medal of Honor to a fellow Pennsylvanian, Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, for saving the lives of four comrades by jumping on a grenade and absorbing the blast himself. He was killed, but his four comrades lived.

How many of us would choose such a fate? Luckily for me, and for my family, I don't have to make that choice. I chose not to sign up for the military, back when I was young enough to do so. Now, I don't have to go to Iraq to serve in an illegal occupation of a once-sovereign nation.

Pfc. McGinnis had a choice too, and he chose to serve--and serve bravely. For that, he deserves the Medal of Honor and our eternal thanks for his sacrifice.

What he does not deserve is to have that medal presented to him by the man who started this illegal war, who continues to pour soldiers' lives and our nation's future into an abyss, and who didn't even have the personal courage to go to war himself. Instead he played around in the Texas Air National Guard, going AWOL for up to a year and avoiding combat altogether.

From the LA Times article: "During Monday's ceremony -- only the fourth time the Medal of Honor has been presented for exceptional valor in the Iraq war -- Bush was noticeably choked up." (way to glorify the Idiot, LA Times.)

I bet he was "choked up."

I bet he cried like a fucking baby, thinking about this soldier's sacrifice. After all, this is the same president who claimed earlier this year, when speaking with American troops in Afghanistan,
I must say, I'm a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you … in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks.
How romantic and exciting and fantastic--right, Chimpy? If he'd ever been to war, he'd know what a fantasy world he's living in. He'd know what all soldiers know: that war is hell..

This 19-year-old kid probably wasn't thinking any of those idiotic things when he saved his fellow soldiers' lives; he probably wasn't thinking about making history.

How romantic and exciting and fantastic it would be to have Bush make some history of his own and turn himself over to the authorities for war crimes.

But we all know that's not going to happen. Instead, he'll continue his war of aggression, his occupation in various countries the world over, his complete divestiture of our nation's wealth and future.

In a bizarro world somewhere, the true George Bush--the one who knows what a fuck-up he is, and knows how he's driven this country into the shitter--really IS crying. Real tears, not that fake acting bullshit he pulls in front of the media when his handlers tell him to think of something sad, like his puppy dying, so the reporters will get a good shot of him.

In that bizarro world, Chimpy would cry because he would know--deep down inside that chicken heart of his--that he never even came close to giving his life in military service for his country. He would know he's a spoiled rich-boy coward whose family name and money got him his sweet little Guard duty instead of a tour or two in Vietnam.

He would know he's no fighter jock; he's a stuffed jock.

He would know he's not the real elected president; he's a C student whose father's political connections bought him the White House.

He would know he doesn't deserve to stand on the same stage as Pfc. McGinnis' parents.

He would know that he should be apologizing to them every single day from now on for starting this whole war and occupation that led to the death of thousands of American soldiers like McGinnis, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens.

11 comments:

GETkristiLOVE said...

Here, here dguz!

Oh, how I wish President Chimpy would be so inclined to hurl himself on a grenade to save our country.

Fran said...

Actually - if Chimpy were half the Christian he purports to be he would gladly "lay down his life" for another.

Who am I to judge the faith of another, but I will. I have only seen him take the extreme of laying down the lives of almost 5000 Americans and countless others if we consider not only Iraqis and others but think of those lost in Katrina too.

He lays down bullshit.

Great post mah sistah, great post.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious if anyone interviewed the parents and asked them what they thought. The Medal of Honor is the highest award a soldier can be awarded and is traditionally awarded by the President. Of course, we haven't had situation like this very often.

I curious what the parents think. If they had refused to attend would the military have had a general give the award.

Just thinking out loud. You have to assume that it would be hard to turn down an invitation by POTUS.

Thanks.

Matt
www.idealcrap.com

Bradda said...

Hey, dguz, chimpy gave up golf! What more can one president do? Where or where are you 1/20/09?!?

Jess Wundrun said...

Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh.

Freida Bee said...

That war crimes link is promising. Thanks for that. I shall be sidebarring that one asap.

dguzman said...

GKL--warms my heart just thinking about it!

Fran--yeah, he's been very generous. . . with other people's lives, other people's money, other people's futures. What a guy.

Matt--I was curious about that too; I couldn't find anything. Maybe after the fact they'll talk about how they felt.

Bradda--D'oh! I forgot that HUGE sacrifice! I take it all back! He's a real prince! (of darkness)

Jess--yup.

Freida--happy to help spread word of Bushco's crimes!

Claire said...

I also wonder how the parents felt. I respect parents who decide to just accept the medal on their son's behalf; perhaps he really believed in the war and they want to honor his memory. But I have just as much respect for the Cindy Sheehans of the world who speak out after losing a child. I wish that Bush would take up golf again and give up the White House. That would be a sacrifice that would make an impression on me.

Sorghum Crow said...

There is no pit in hell deep enough for this creature

Ubermilf said...

My neighbor told me one of her closest friend's 3 year old daughter has leukemia. First, they told her it was an incurable form of bone cancer, but after taking a spinal tap, discovered it was leukemia and they COULD, in fact, give her chemotherapy.

The woman is going through this alone, as her husband is in Iraq and they won't grant him leave.

Even those who don't die are sacrificing much for the big lie.

Unknown said...

That batshit stupid sumbitch had the chance. Does he think we are all on the same IQ level as he?

Bush=brains gawd gave a dandelion.