Mother allows photos of California soldier's coffin to protest media ban

[UpInArms]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/9031347.htm?1c

SACRAMENTO - The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq summoned news outlets to photograph her son's flag-draped casket arriving at Sacramento International Airport to protest a Pentagon policy banning media coverage of America's war dead.

Nearly a dozen reporters, photographers and television crews watched as the coffin of Army Spc. Patrick McCaffrey, 34, was transferred to a hearse outside an airport cargo terminal shortly before midnight Sunday, officials said.

"I don't care what President Bush wants," his mother, Nadia McCaffrey, told the Los Angeles Times. Patrick "did not die for nothing ... The way he lived needs to be talked about. Patrick was not a fighter, he was a peacemaker."

Patrick McCaffrey was killed June 22 along with Lt. Andre Tyson, both members of the 579th Engineer Battalion, when the two were ambushed by insurgents near Balad, Iraq.

The debate over whether Americans should see the coffins of McCaffrey and other troops flared last April after The Seattle Times published a front-page photograph of caskets in a cargo plane in Kuwait and a First Amendment activist posted on his Web site dozens of like images from Dover, Del., home to the nation's largest military mortuary.

...more...

[struggle4progress]

1. Yet there is no coverage about "the way he lived."

:cry:

The cost of war ...

[orthogonal]

2. She is a traitor!

She has no right!

He's not her son -- she gave her child to the Army and Our Leader!

By showing the coffin, she is treasonously aiding our terrorist enemy Emmanuel Goldstein!

This selfish mother should console herself by giving birth to more soldiers for the Fatherl -- er, Homeland!

We have always been at war with Eastasia!

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. My heart goes out to that mom.

If it were me, I'd do the same thing.

[TahitiNut]

4. My LTTE ...

To: Editor [e-mail]

Welcome Home, Patrick McCaffrey.

My heartfelt sympathy and respect goes out to Ms. Nadia McCaffrey (Mon, Jun. 28, 2004, "Mother allows photos of California soldier's coffin to protest media ban") for the loss of her son and her courage in publicly honoring his sacrifice. As just one Viet Nam Veteran who returned alone, unwelcomed, in the dark of night, to a nation mostly ashamed of his service, I am appalled by those who'd tolerate the anti-democratic blindfold this corrupt administration would place over the eyes of a deluded, myopic public. The sons and daughters of this nation, who entrust not only their lives but their personal volition to that of a government (purportedly) "of the People, by the People and for the People," deserve far more than to be treated with shame and embarrassment upon their return. When we ("the People") fail to honor such sacrifices and fail to give due diligence to that which is undertaken in our name, the shame is ours again, all ours.

<name>
formerly of Los Gatos, California

---

<sigh> Not one of my better efforts, but the best I could do this morning. ;(

[G_j]

6. you underestimate your letter

it is quite good.
thanks, keep up the good work!

[SilasSoule]

9. Everything Tahitnut writes is good

[Sugarbleus]

11. I weep....................

Welcome Home TahitiNut!


Thank you for your service and thank you for the letter to this hurting family in honor of their son's return. It was totally appropriate and to the point......

BRAVO Ms Ndia McCaffrey!!

Rest in Peace Patrick McCaffrey...........


WE WILL NOT FORGET

[Timefortruth]

14. That is wonderful.

I hope it gets printed.

[Rebellious Republican]

15. Damn that gave me chillsTahitiNut, excellent prose!!!!

[Raster]

16. great letter!!!...brought a tear to my eye

[TahitiNut]

22. You guys are very generous. Thank you.

Even as I again look at it, I see some points I might've said better. Sang loi. :shrug:

Since it was an AP wire story and not written by the paper's staff, it'll probably be passed over for that alone ... as well as what I think they'd regard as a bit too contorted prose. Oh well - I came close to saying what I wanted.

[kimchi]

21. Great letter!

You have such a way with words!

*swoon*

[readmylips]

5. If bush killed my son....

I would demand a funeral down Pennsylvania Ave, same as Reagan's. God Bless My Sailor Step Son. Apparently the fleet of carrirs on their way to the middle east, it's a blockaid bush is cooking up against Iran. It's all to help his election and degrading personal character. It has nothing to do with the USA. Hold on to your shots...the world will be even more dangerous for American citizens and the world. WW3 is coming.

[Kimber Scott]

7. Is this true? Where heading for a confrontation with Iran?

Have you told anybody in the media? Is this reported anywhere in the media?

[Eloriel]

10. It's been hinted at all over the place

I think there was a Resolution against Iran passed in Congress recently.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. Have YOU been paying attention to the number of times we've...

...threatened Iran over their nuclear program? Did you happen to notice the eight British soldiers that were caught in Iranian waters in three small boats? And how about the reports of the Israeli Mossad operating in northern Iraq and infiltrating the Iranian border?

Did you know that this kind of activity went on prior to our invasion of Iraq?

Oh, by the way, did you know that we've ordered seven carrier battle groups to sea for "maneuvers" this summer? There are already three to four carrier battle groups operating in various places around the world.

All of that information has been reported in the mainstream media over the last couple of months. Wouldn't you say that those are pretty good signs that something is in the works in terms of action against Iran?

[Kimber Scott]

19. Apparently, I WASN'T.

I'm sorry I've been focusing on other things. That's the reason I asked the question. Thank you for clearing it up for me, though. I appreciate the schooling.

[Blue Gardener]

8. Good for her

Maybe others will start doing the same.

[Kukesa]

12. Another Lila. n/t

[progressivebydesign]

13. I admire her.

She has a lot of courage. Her son DESERVES to be honored, not hidden. They come in to Dover in the middle of the night, and it sounds as though they are dispersed to their final resting place in the middle of the night. Bush is evil. Just plain evil.

[Tight_rope]

17. Great for Ms. McCaffrey....I would have done the same!

Translation of "I don't care what President Bush wants," means "FUCK WHAT BUSH WANTS"!

[dArKeR]

20. ALL Republicans are a disgrace to America! No respect for the children

who have died fighting their war! Disgraceful Maggot Republicans!