Tillman Lived and Died the American Dream

Stone193

This is a letter written by Bruce Grimm of Wellsville, Ohio in this week's SCD - Tell me what you think - is he making a tribute to this fallen hero?


<< <i>Recent events in the world have made me stop and think - not about the normal things, but believe it or not, the NFL. Two different things come to mind.
One, there is Pat Tillman, a man wanting to leave the NFL to pursue a dream that most of us couldn't imagine, giving up millions to defend our rights.
Though I think that the decision was a wrong one and please don't get me wrong, I admire the man for giving his life for what he evidently thought was a higher cause. I think that a man with such a giving heart could have done much more with his money and his mind right here in the United States.
He turned down a 3.6 million contract and had graduated with high honors from Arizona State in business, so to me there were things he could have done to help the homeless, the ill, etc., here at home.
There have been many others that have paid the ultimate sacrifice to do what they believe in but I highly doubt that they had the resources to contribute in other ways such as Mr. Tillman did. To all those people, we owe our freedom.
Two, Maurice Clarett, a man wanting to get into the NFL to pursue his dream, yet he is denied by the court system because he is not old enough for all intents and purpose.
The NFL says that he is not ready to face the roughness that pro football offers. Oh sure, he could work in a mill, sell burgers or do other jobs that may be out there for a 20 year old. You want to talk about somehting rough? Ask the Tillman family or the many others gone before. War is rough. Maybe the next time an 18 yr. old enlists in the military, the court system should jump in and tell them they are not ready for the roughness of war.
Clarett should be on the field on Sundays, as I'm sure the Tillmans wish Pat could be, too. I think they would rather see him tackle a running back than to have lost his life: but that'll never change, maybe other things will.
It's people like Pat Tillman and the others before that make it possible for the Maurice Claretts and the common man to pursue their dreams. I guess that's what Pat did. I'm sure he'll be missed by family, fans and teammates.
Thank you, Pat, for living and dying the American dream. >>




Mike

Aknot

I had a long reply and deleted it. Write ups like this only further my belief that some people just take up good air from the rest of us.

toppsgun

"He turned down a 3.6 million contract and had graduated with high honors from Arizona State in business, so to me there were things he could have done to help the homeless, the ill, etc., here at home."

A couple of Biblical insights:

The poor will always be around you. (All the money in the world will never change that. It will only raise the bar to a higher cut-off level of defining the poor.)

Greater love hath no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends. (When someone makes the ultimate sacrifice, in an honorable way, who am I to question his motives?)

kuhlmann

Pat Tillman Is an american hero, and so is evrybody else in the armed forces! HATS OFF TO ALL OF YOU! The Maurice Clarett thing, that falls along the same lines as if your 18 and you can die for your country why cant you drink a beer?

Stone193

I'm getting some really good input but if you would, please address specifically if this individual is truly making a tribute to Mr. Tillman or is it feint praise?
Thanx for your replies.
Mike

edit for 3rd grade grammar

Futureman

This guy's argument is just as stupid as the people that want to rip Eli and relate that situation to Tillman's. Someone could just as easily say it the other way: Pat Tillman fought in the war to protect the country and protect the NFL's right to have a requirement to play in the league. See how dumb that sounds?

Pat Tillman's story was unique. I think that comparing it to trivial things, such as Eli not wanting to play in San Diego, or allowing Clarett to play in the NFL, is an example of people exploiting Tillman. Yes, Tillman left millions of dollars on the table, left the NFL, and didn't want any publicity from it. However, the loss of his life isn't any more or less tragic than any of the other people that have died. None of the people in the armed forces had to go, and just because some 18 year old joined the military didn't have the chance to make millions in the NFL, I don't think it makes it any easier on his family or friends.

People need to "stop and think" more often, and not just when "recent events" make them. Where do arguments like this stop? Pat Tillman wanted Clarett to play in the NFL. Pat Tillman wanted Eli to be happy to play in San Diego. Pat Tillman wanted me to profit off of his sacrifice by selling his cards on ebay. Pat Tillman wanted everyone to have tomorrow off, so that they can be with their families. Pat Tillman wanted lower taxes. Pat Tillman wanted you to have your pets spayed or neutered. Pat Tillman wanted me to have free cable. Pat Tillman wanted people to write bogus letters to SCD.

People should stop taking honorable things and twisting them to promote their own cause.

Scumbi

There are many interesting questions pertaining to the Tillman death. Everyone has some sort of opinion. I don't think any are right or wrong. Many were angered because Tillman received such special attention when anonymous kids face the same fate halfway around the world.

My view is this: I don't think any of us can judge, criticize or rightfully comment on the whole Tillman tragedy. He was an individual with his own ideas, priorities, values and ethics. His choice was a personal one. I think the biggest problem today with the world is people think they know what is best for others. Worry about yourself. You can control your own actions. Religion, politics and the media all try to impose this false consensus on us. No view or action is right, wrong, better or worse. This is a world made up of 5 billion individuals all with different life experiences, concerns and views. Anytime one of us decides what is/was better for another indidvidual, trouble ensues. Holy Wars, terrorism, racism, elitism, etc... all stem from one person or group deciding they know the right answer. There is no right answer. Life is a trick question. So, do the best you can and worry about yourself and your family. Others will do the same and, maybe, we can all evolve to the next level of acceptance in this judgmental world.

DirtyHarry

Stone - I believe this praise is suggestively cloaked with a message that does not support and honor what the man did.

Regarding the controversy circling around that Pat Tillman's life has been positioned as more important than the "common man" who has laid his life on the line to protect our country.....I can understand the point of view from those who have lost loved one's, but feel that his notariety has only enhanced and brought to the forefront the braveness of the other men and women in this country who have put their lives on the line to guard our freedom......and has helped bring their stories forward for all to acknowledge and honor.

toppsgun

Scumbi,

You spout moral relativism.

Here's another insight for you: "Each man did what was right in his own eyes" always leads to trouble. Man needs a compass, a higher standard, a set of absolutes. Where can he find such? Certainly not in his own heart, for the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things, who can know it?

If you ask more questions, you receive more answers.

Scumbi

Toppsgun - You just made an argument for police states akin to Orwell's 1984. I suppose you are one of the few that has been chosen by some unknown power to guide the poor sheep/population. Do you seriously believe one idea is superior to another? Every system has its own merits. It's the greed and entitlement displayed by the ruling class that ruins it. Maybe you can explain to all of us what religion we should be, why we are in IRAQ and the reason the United States exists? I'm curious about your ideas.

Thanks in advance,

S.

Stone193

OK guys, here's what I wrote to the SCD reader section as my take on the letter written.

Rebuttal to “Tillman Lived and Died the American Dream” offered by Bruce Grimm of Wellsville, OH

I find his feint praise of Pat Tillman and criticism of how and what he should have done with his talent and resources disturbing to say the least. Moreover, his analysis of the Clarett court decision and the spirit of the rule by the NFL, is extremely flawed. The NFL’s rule is “inclusively” protective of an entire group where making “exclusive” exceptions to the rule would be both chaotic and complicated to determine. Furthermore, his analogy of the “roughness” of war and the toughness of NFL football shows a complete lack of understanding in my opinion. As a former infantry officer I will say with complete assuredness that a soldier 6 foot 5 or 5 foot 6, both possess an equal opportunity of defending themselves with an M-16 and a hand grenade as an equalizer. A similar situation, can not be found playing in the NFL. His thinly veiled tribute to Tillman is both ingenuous and nothing more than an ill conceived attempt to justify the argument for the inclusiveness of Maurice Clarett within the NFL.
Stone193 San Antonio, Texas

Mike