Sunday, June 7, 2009

Remember Pvt. William Long

Pvt. William Long, 23, was killed Monday at an Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock.

Here is the link to the story below. At this time, I have no more comment on this story other than what I have already given and been denounced by various parties for.

Mike
III

Back Channels: Remember the victim and kin

A recruiter's killing drew little national notice. For now, focus on family's loss.


By Kevin Ferris
Inquirer Columnist
Sun, Jun. 7, 2009

Whether you are off to church this morning or just relaxing at home, please take a moment to offer a prayer or good thoughts for Pvt. William Long and his family.

Long, 23, was murdered Monday outside the Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock. He and a fellow private, Quinton Ezeagwula, 18, were on a smoke break. Long was shot three times and died within the hour at a hospital. Ezeagwula was hit at least twice, but is expected to survive.

They were both new to the Army. The two had recently completed basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga., and were on a short-term assignment that sent them home to talk with potential recruits about their experiences.

Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, a Tennessee man who converted to Islam, faces one count of capital murder and 15 counts of committing a terroristic act in the shootings.

When he was arrested, police reportedly found guns and Molotov cocktails in his truck. Muhammad has pleaded not guilty.

Police and prosecutors have speculated that the "political and religious" attack was motivated by Muhammad's desire to avenge U.S. military actions against Muslims.

Neither victim had been in the service long enough to take action against anyone.

There are questions about whether Muhammad acted alone, or if there were other potential targets. The investigation continues.

However, those aren't the only questions being raised. Bloggers and others contrast the limited media coverage of Long's killing with the front-page headlines on the murder of abortion doctor George Tiller last Sunday. They wonder why the White House issued a statement of outrage almost immediately about the doctor, but waited days to say anything about the soldier. They point to claims that harsh antiabortion rhetoric incited violence against Tiller, yet hear nothing about protests - and even attacks - against recruiters and other members of the military.

The questions are understandable. Some of the discussion might even be worth a listen. But before going too far down that road, focus on the Long family and its loss.

Lt. Col. Tom Artis, whose command includes the Little Rock center, said Long "was committed to service and always wanted to be a soldier." His father was a Marine; his mother had served in the Navy. His brother is on active duty in the Army.

Artis said those who knew Long at Fort Benning and at the recruiting center all had the same story.

"He was a great kid, highly motivated, always willing to learn, always trying to better himself," Artis said. "That was one of the reasons we brought him back as a recruiter."

Artis has also spoken to Long's family.

"This business is not easygoing," he said. "But they are proud of his achievements and their heads are held high. They give me inspiration."

To see what Artis means, watch the moving interview Long's father, Daris, gave KATV-TV in Arkansas. He was at work when he got the call about the attack. Long's mother was actually in the center's parking lot reading, waiting to give their son a ride home. She heard the shots.

Daris Long chokes up when he talks about meeting Ezeagwula's family at the hospital, especially his mother. "We're so glad that he's alive," Daris Long said, fighting back tears. "And we are so thankful for her kindness."

On the way home, the Longs stopped at Walgreen's, and when people heard it was their son that had been shot, a woman in line stepped up and paid for Daris Long's Cokes and ibuprofen, refusing to let him pay her back. "There are good people here," he said in the interview, clearly moved.

Such a small gesture in many ways. One sliver of a moment, easily forgotten, in the tumult of this family's grief. Much like this brief TV interview, it is just one small part of a week that has engulfed them in sorrow.

Neither the gestures nor the interview will end all the questions. Yet they are a good reminder that the questions aren't the top priority. Kindness and decency should come first at such times.

On a Sunday morning, while reflecting on a family's loss, I'm grateful for the good people who have kept that lesson in mind.

8 comments:

ParaPacem said...

Wanna know what royally pisses me off about it all - besides the obvious, two of our finest being ambushed by a gutless piece of excrement - ?
The Kenyan inhabitant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has now declared that he wants a full investigation to turn up 'all of the actors' involved in the death of his child-murdering role model, Tiller the Killer. Got that? A 'full investigation'... because in his reptilian mind, there MUST be that vast right wing conspiracy!
BUT - O the Asswipe says *nothing* about his mooslim brother being investigated for those who were working with HIM, and the plans that he had very plainly laid out for further assaults on playgrounds, Jewish and Christian centers, etc. Not one word about finding those in his network, which - unlike Obama's paranoiac fantasies of the right wing - actually DOES exist.
Like Obama's insistence that all charges be dropped agaisnt his black panther brethren in the documented, videotaped voter intimidation case... one must wonder -
IS there a line between state sponsored murder and terrorism and in the government simply looking the other way when its agenda is carried out ? Or does it all blend together into a 'seamless garment'?

Sorry for the expletives - most of the actions of the various commie bastards in our government don't get to my emotional level quite like this, but when such scumbags cover up for the cowardly, subhuman actions of their supporters in attacking our military... yeah, that pretty well presses the button for me.

Anonymous said...

Well said. I don't think I could have done better.
My tears and prayers for both families, but especially for the Longs.

B Woodman
SSG (Ret) US Army
III

LUCKY said...

I just think that we should allow our recruiters to carry. Let them carry their side arm if the are NCO's or if they aren't let them use their rifles.

Anonymous said...

Why are we even dignifying this a-hole by calling him anything other than Carlos Bledsoe?

Eat Pork and Die Mo Fo!

Para sez; "unlike Obama's paranoiac fantasies of the right wing".

Seems to me that Obongo (he seems bent on turning us into a turd word country, might as well give him a turd world name)is doing everything possible to make sure the massive right wing conspiracy comes into existance! How much more of this crap can we take!

Anonymous said...

This is just another indication of the fact that we are already involved in a war even if we don't acknowledge the fact. I don't necessarily mean a war against the cult of the desert moon god (Islam) but one of a cultural war within our own country. Yes the former exists but the latter seems to be of more of an immediate threa (depending upon your geographic location and point of view).

There is the socialist PC camp on one side and us on the other and by us I mean law abiding, patriotic Americans that believe in limited government, free enterprise, etc.

Two legs baaaad four legs goooood....

Cory

Anonymous said...

Check this out:
http://www.sundayherald.com/international/shinternational/display.var.2512885.0.key_figures_in_global_battle_against_illegal_arms_trade_lost_in_air_france_crash.php

Anonymous said...

Interesting article.

Three prominent UN gun-control activists went down with that Air France plane.

"Dreyfus was an advocate of the stringent labeling of ammunition by weapons firms, arguing that by clearly identifying ammunition not only by its producer but also its purchaser, the likelihood of weapons being sourced by criminals from corrupt police or armed forces personnel is greatly reduced."

Gee, where have we heard this idiocy before?

pdxr13 said...

These 2 Privates need Purple Hearts along with Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (not the service medal, since they were shot by what was essentially a foreign soldier , formerly an American who needs citizenship stripped, who happened to be invading the USA).

Pvt. Long should be buried at Arlington with full military honors as KIA.

There is no difference between getting killed in the USA or somewhere else while in uniform and on duty. Unfortunately, we are not safe from the poison idea of Islam just because we are inside our borders.