Symptoms of Corrupting Sickness (updated)
It would be interesting to create a poll with these two photos and have people guess what’s happening. I suspect that most would never assume anything close to the real story. It appears to be a joyous homecoming, a reuniting of mother and son.
The truth is not so heart warming.
The lady in the picture is the mother of an American that was ambushed in Fallujah, Iraq. Her son was murdered. His body was dragged around in the streets of the city, then burned and hung from the upper trusses of a bridge. The murderers gathered to celebrate and have their photos taken with the trophy.
The young sailor in the picture is one of the Navy SEALs that later captured the leader of the band of terrorist butchers and brought him to justice.
If the story ended there, it would still be an acceptable feel-good, good-guys-win story. Unfortunately, that’s not the case – this Navy SEAL is facing criminal charges. Because, somewhere along the timeline of his capture, the terrorist murderer suffered a school-yard fat lip, his captors are now being charged with nothing short of war crimes and facing discharge and imprisonment.
So, instead of celebration of justice served and heroes honored, these photos record betrayal, compounded mourning and the effects of a corrupting sickness.
From WAVY.com:
SEALs assault case goes to court
NORFOLK, Va. – “It’s been very stressful,” said Navy SEAL Mathew McCabe, 24, moments after his arraignment in military court at Naval Station Norfolk Monday on charges that he allegedly mistreated an Iraqi detainee.
The mother of slain Blackwater guard Jerry Zovko drove from Ohio to give each of the accused SEALs a blessed rosary and lend them her support. “These young SEALs are in this situation because they caught the mastermind behind the death of my son, and not only my son and his co-workers but also the marines who went into Fallujah after their death,” said Donna Zovko. “I am very proud of these young SEALs and thankful to them. They did not do anything wrong.”
What title can I give to the mentality of a people that send their best to defend the whole and then betray them? To what shall I attribute the attitude of a people that habitually prosecute their heroes while defending their enemies? What creates a culture that allows people to vilify and isolate their most noble and deify their most corrupt?
I perceive more symptoms of a sickness, a corruption of the nation’s heart and soul. I am tempted to label it ‘liberalism’ or ‘progressivism’, but those too are just symptoms of the infection. But this is nothing new, I recognized these symptoms four decades ago in the shameful treatment of our warriors returning from Vietnam, in the acceptance of Marines bombed in Beirut, in the ho-hum yawn of media coverage of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down), in the return to mental numbness after 9/11, prosecution of the Marines of Hadith, assault of recruiters across the country, anti-war protesters at the gates of Walter Reed Army Hospital ….
This sickness, this infection has gone untreated for far too long. Americans are a tolerant bunch. We’ve patiently waited for the ingrates among us to grow up and develop a sense of pride and awe in the greatness of America. It’s not happening.
I’m tired of waiting. I’m fresh out of tolerance. There comes a time when the treatment for an infection cannot be postponed any longer, lest the patient die.
Through history how many nations have habitually betrayed their defenders and survived?
Don Gray of Military Appreciation Day and NC Gathering of Eagles.
Patrik Holbrook, NC Gathering of Eagles.
Russell Pope, NCFreedom.us
and Randy Dye, Randy’s Right Blog and NCFreedom.us
We joined a hundred or more others at Gate 5 of the Norfolk Naval Base to demonstrate support for Navy SEAL Mathew McCabe.
Here are my photos.
Above: My friend Jim Holmes, Quantico, VA: Gathering of Eagles
Above: Mike Blankenship, Gathering of Eagles
Above: Randy Dye with my bride
Above: Me and My friend Mike Blankenship
Above: Russell Pope on my right, Patrik Holbrook to my left
Above: I met the SEAL’s father, Marty McCabe.
After the arraignment hearings, McCabe came out to meet his supporters.
Above: McCabe and Jim Deihl, Gathering of Eagles
Above: Josh Irving met McCabe
Above: the expression of this supporter sums it.
Thanks to Pat, Don, Randy and Russ for riding with us.
Thanks to Russ and Randy for photos.
And Thank You Mathew McCabe for your service to our country.
Update 3 : January 9, 2010
Josh Irving of SupportOurSeals.com has suggested that Facebook account users update their profile photo with this image:
Update 2
Again, from WAVY.com:
Lawmakers rally around accused SEALs
NORFOLK, Va. – Lawmakers are rallying around three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating the suspected terrorist who masterminded the ambush and killing of four Blackwater contractors protecting a convoy in Iraq. Many lawmakers are asking the Navy to drop its prosecution of the SEALs
Update 1
Contribution by reader Jeff Preston
(click for full size)
December 8th, 2009 under Uncategorized.