This disgusts me in a way that was both powerful and suprising. Normally I try to keep a veneer of apathy around the news regarding the current administration but this one cuts a little deep.
Folks, the neo-cons view all of life as a business transaction and all of us as commodities to move around. Just for flavor they wrap these beliefs in fanatical religious rhetoric and claim that those who oppose them are ‘unpatriotic’ or ‘immoral’ .
Let’s not hear anymore moralizing bullshit from the right if its all the same to you. My life is not a business. Its my life. And if I or one of my relatives are killed in action you had better make damn good and sure that you treat them like a person and a patriot who died serving their country. Its more than most neocons have done.
Will you be checking that today? – "Dead heroes are supposed to come home with their coffins draped with the American flag — greeted by a color guard. But in reality, many are arriving as freight on commercial airliners — stuffed in the belly of a plane with suitcases and other cargo."
(Via Metafilter)
Question Here’s where I reveal my complete ignorance regarding such matters. In the past, how has this been handled? Soldiers killed overseas come back to the States (into Dover AFB, right?) – but after that, in previous wars, has the protocol been different than what’s described in this article? I’m just curious to know whether this is a terrible thing that’s been going on for some time, or a brand new terrible thing.
As I have always understood, As I have always understood, the bodies of the fallen have always been transported home in military aircraft, draped in the flag and escorted by military personell for the entire duration of the trip home. The entire ride home.
Being stuffed into the cargo hold of commercial airlines amidst panties, deoderant, golf bags and dog carriers is completely out of line being that it lacks the dignity owed to a human being who was killed in action.
/army brat
Thanks for the Thanks for the clarification, Cherish. That was my understanding as well, but I wasn’t at all sure.