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DEL.ICIO.USBlogwatch: About an e-mail from Iraq
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Through the weekend, the blogs talked of the Job-like speech in the House on Friday by freshman state Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Jonesboro), whose daughter Latisha is an Army sergeant in Iraq.
We have the audio for you here. Blog for Democracy was kind enough to provide a link to the video. The Glanton speech begins at about the 43rd minute.
Glanton begins as a lonely figure at the rostrum. By the time he’s finished, half the chamber is gathered at his side.
Here’s a transcript:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Distinguished colleagues of the House of Representatives. I rise this morning to ask for this body’s prayers for my family. This has been a challenging week for my family.
On Monday, my grandmother passed away. On Tuesday, my aunt in Ohio had a massive stroke, and is in her last hours — not expected to live another 48 hours. On Wednesday, my aunt from Rome was rushed to Floyd Medical Center with complications from diabetes. And if that wasn’t enough, on yesterday, my uncle in Summerville, Ga., passed away from a massive heart attack.
And still challenging my week, on yesterday, my daughter’s camp in Baghdad was hit by a mortar attack. Many of you have asked about my daughter’s status daily, and I appreciate that. In the midst of our storm, we stand on our faith in almighty God and dare not lean…to our own understanding.
And so this morning, if I might, Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with this body the e-mail I received from my daughter this morning:
“Dear Dad,
I hate to tell you things like this, but I don’t know how to feel. Last night, I was out with my friends at the air field, talking, waiting for their chopper to come and to pick them up to finally go back home, when we got hit by a mortar.
One of my friends pushed me out of the way” — Praise God, Glanton said, interrupting himself — “and into safety. But two of my friends were hit. I cannot stop crying, Daddy.
When I close my eyes, I hear my friend McCall screaming he can’t feel his leg. And seeing all the blood on his uniform. I hear Milton screaming, “Don’t leave me.”
When I close my eyes, I see the flash of the mortar landing in front of my eyes. I’ve been put on bed rest for today. And I’m supposed to go to the medics tomorrow to take some kind of medications. I am being monitored because they are thinking of sending me to our main base.
I don’t want to come off like some wimp, Dad. I can’t leave my troops out here, but I am scared to leave my room. Maybe I just need some time. I don’t know. I just want to tell you that I love you, and to keep you informed of my health.”
To this body, I ask for your continued prayers for my daughter, for my family, and for all our service men and women who so bravely serve in our armed forces, guarding our way of life and this country, serving in harm’s way.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By mark
February 12, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
A couple more reasons to get them out of there. Why are we there? Bush still hasn’t given a reason that didn’t turn out to be a lie or absurd. I mean, it’s been proven he lied about WMDs and Saddam’s connection to Al Queda. Now he’s floating this idea that the mess he’s caused in Iraq is some kind of epic battle for our values and way of life. If that were true, he should be reinstating the draft, raising taxes and mobilizing our entire society to fight this epic battle like we did in WWII. Instead Bush offers tax cuts to his rich friends and nothing to the rest of us but “stay the course.” What an terribly president and person!
By shelly
February 12, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
Mark it is obvious from your comments that you have more than “drank the koolaid” and get ALL of your information from the media. I was going to argue all of your points but it is quite obvious that you have quoted, verbatum, things that you have heard in the news and have nothing substantial to contribute to this column. The fact that you still are even mentioning WMDs and say that Bush lied shows you really have no clue about what is going on in the world today. And to blame one person for all of the things that go on in and effect this country proves you are completely dillusional (like most dems) about the government and the country that you live in.
By ron
February 12, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
To Rep. Glanton and family: I offer you my prayers that your daughter will return home safe and sound. My son was in Iraq for all of 2005, getting home just before Christmas. It was the longest year of my life. His job was as a Trailblazer. His unit was out there every day looking for the IEDs before they could do damage to others. It was a gruelling experience for him and us, his family back home. But he did get home safe and sound and I pray your daughter will too!
By MrLiberty
February 12, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
What sort of consolation is there to offer? The US Army and every other branch of the military has done absolutely nothing to “defend” this nation since possibly the 1940’s. It is the army of the empire; it is simply put a tool for the emperor to extend the influence of the empire accross the globe. To willingly join such an organization is to align oneself with everything this county once stood against. I am sorry for those who feel that the military is their only ticket out of their economic circumstance, but that is no excuse for being ignorant of the true nature of what our military has become. There are no global threats to our way of life or our freedoms anymore, but domestically there are plenty of enemies - and they are all elected or appointed - or belong to the republican and democratic parties.
Rep. Glanton would have been a far better parent if he had educated his daughter as to what today’s military is really about. Anyone who has watched since Korea should know, but the vast majority of americans still continue to delude themselves with some sappy belief that the men and women in uniform are heroes and are deserving of our unending respect. We no longer fight wars of defense. We fight wars of aggression and wars for the sake of politically-connected industries like the military-industrial complex and the oil industry. The real heroes are back home in the states attempting to keep the government from destroying freedom.
Rep. Glanton should take a hard look at the positions he has taken in this war, what votes he has cast in support of liberty and freedom, and what he is doing today to bring to justice those who have cause all of this unnecessary bloodshed and suffering. Impeachment, conviction, war crimes trials, the repeal of the Patriot Act, the elimination of the TSA, Homeland Security, and other freedom-destroying branches of government and the like would all be a great start to begin his own and this country’s healing.
As for you Shelly, reality is knocking. Turn off that FOX news channel and get on the reality train.
By ron
February 12, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Mr. liberty: you are in denial of the truth! we do have enemies wanting to destroy this country. why don’t you go live in some other country and see how you like it there since you are so against the way our country is being run.
By Jim J
February 12, 2007 5:16 PM | Link to this
why don’t you go live in some other country and see how you like it there since you are so against the way our country is being run.
That’s why we call it a democracy, little Ron-Ron. We get to be against the way our country is run as much as we like. We even get to vote on it!
Moron.
I got an idea, Ronnie — why don’t you go and live in some other country, since you obviously don’t agree that democracy is how we should run things here?
By CW
February 14, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
AT&T should be allowed to offer cable TV connections in Georgia for two reasons. First it would offer better reception to both municipal and rural areas not served by cable. Secondly, in areas such as LaGrange and Troup County, we have only one provider, Charter Communications, and their service is constantly criticized for it quality and the prices increase every year from $2 to $4 with no improvements in services or channel selections. At least AT&T would provide us a choice and as they say, competition always improves prices and service.