Take that, Cindy!

[KANE]

Here's a better approach to dealing with the loss of a son in the Long War...

_______________________________________________________________

Grief Compels Marine's Dad to Support War
By TERRY KINNEY
Associated Press Writer

FAIRFIELD, Ohio - A soft-spoken suburban real-estate broker, John Prazynski didn't consider himself political and never expected to become a public figure, much less a pro-war activist. But in the year since his son Taylor, a Marine, died in
Iraq, Prazynski has devoted much of his time to supporting the troops through fundraisers, two trips to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and interviews backing the war effort.

"I could easily have gone the other way," Prazynski said. He says his activism is a tribute to his son, trying to "make something positive happen out of something so negative. That's what Taylor would want us to do."

Marine Lance Cpl. Taylor Prazynski, 20, died May 9, 2005, of shrapnel wounds from a mortar shell that exploded near him during combat in Anbar Province. In his last phone calls, the fun-loving, popular man who had spent much of his senior year of high school helping special-needs students told his father he wanted to become a special education teacher.

Since his son's death, Prazynski, 43, has been interviewed repeatedly about the war while organizing a series of 5-kilometer runs and motorcycle rides to raise money for scholarships for students who attend his son's high school.

"I do this to keep Taylor's memory alive," Prazynski said.

On opening day of the baseball season in Cincinnati, he joined
President Bush and two wounded soldiers on the field in pregame ceremonies. Prazynski said he wanted to thank Bush for his support "and give him two thumbs up with his positive stance on security, military and veterans' issues."

The former Air Force tech school instructor shares the pain — but not the viewpoint — of Cindy Sheehan, who became a high-profile war protester after her son Casey was killed in Iraq in April 2004.

"She's grieving, as we are," Prazynski said. "She's chosen to direct her energies in a different direction. I say God bless her.

"My son died for the Constitution that allows her to do what she's doing. Her son died, and God bless him, too, to support and defend the Constitution that gives her the right to speak freely, and I'm all for that right.

"I just don't think that I clearly understand what her agenda is."

Sheehan, who helped found Gold Star Families for Peace, has called for the impeachment of Bush, whom she says duped America into invading Iraq.

Prazynski understands the constant hurt of losing a child, and why such a loss has turned some grieving parents against the war. Even now, he said, "Every day is painful."

The father searched the Internet and found several groups he felt he could support, but chose Impact Player Partners because it was based in nearby Cincinnati. The nonprofit group, an advocate for wounded and disabled veterans, invited Prazynski to take part in the opening day presentation with Bush.

Prazynski also works with the Washington-based Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and hopes to raise donations for its activities by running in the Marine Corps Marathon in October.

"We're so grateful for his participation," said TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll. "It's an incredible opportunity to honor and help all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one."

Prazynski's last trip to Camp Lejeune — some 700 miles on a motorcycle — was another step.

"That's part of the healing process, to meet parents of other Marines and soldiers who died and just be able to talk to them," he said.

On his way home, Prazynski made a spur-of-the-moment 300-mile side trip.

"I went up to Arlington (National Cemetery) and visited Taylor's grave, and the other Cincinnati fallen heroes and the other men he served with. That's part, I guess, of how I deal with things," he said.

"I spent most of Saturday afternoon in Arlington. It's just peaceful; I could probably sit there for days, seriously."

[Greenie]

Here's a better approach to dealing with the loss of a son in the Long War...

_______________________________________________________________

Grief Compels Marine's Dad to Support War
By TERRY KINNEY
Associated Press Writer

FAIRFIELD, Ohio - A soft-spoken suburban real-estate broker, John Prazynski didn't consider himself political and never expected to become a public figure, much less a pro-war activist. But in the year since his son Taylor, a Marine, died in
Iraq, Prazynski has devoted much of his time to supporting the troops through fundraisers, two trips to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and interviews backing the war effort.

"I could easily have gone the other way," Prazynski said. He says his activism is a tribute to his son, trying to "make something positive happen out of something so negative. That's what Taylor would want us to do."

Marine Lance Cpl. Taylor Prazynski, 20, died May 9, 2005, of shrapnel wounds from a mortar shell that exploded near him during combat in Anbar Province. In his last phone calls, the fun-loving, popular man who had spent much of his senior year of high school helping special-needs students told his father he wanted to become a special education teacher.

Since his son's death, Prazynski, 43, has been interviewed repeatedly about the war while organizing a series of 5-kilometer runs and motorcycle rides to raise money for scholarships for students who attend his son's high school.

"I do this to keep Taylor's memory alive," Prazynski said.

On opening day of the baseball season in Cincinnati, he joined
President Bush and two wounded soldiers on the field in pregame ceremonies. Prazynski said he wanted to thank Bush for his support "and give him two thumbs up with his positive stance on security, military and veterans' issues."

The former Air Force tech school instructor shares the pain — but not the viewpoint — of Cindy Sheehan, who became a high-profile war protester after her son Casey was killed in Iraq in April 2004.

"She's grieving, as we are," Prazynski said. "She's chosen to direct her energies in a different direction. I say God bless her.

"My son died for the Constitution that allows her to do what she's doing. Her son died, and God bless him, too, to support and defend the Constitution that gives her the right to speak freely, and I'm all for that right.

"I just don't think that I clearly understand what her agenda is."

Sheehan, who helped found Gold Star Families for Peace, has called for the impeachment of Bush, whom she says duped America into invading Iraq.

Prazynski understands the constant hurt of losing a child, and why such a loss has turned some grieving parents against the war. Even now, he said, "Every day is painful."

The father searched the Internet and found several groups he felt he could support, but chose Impact Player Partners because it was based in nearby Cincinnati. The nonprofit group, an advocate for wounded and disabled veterans, invited Prazynski to take part in the opening day presentation with Bush.

Prazynski also works with the Washington-based Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and hopes to raise donations for its activities by running in the Marine Corps Marathon in October.

"We're so grateful for his participation," said TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll. "It's an incredible opportunity to honor and help all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one."

Prazynski's last trip to Camp Lejeune — some 700 miles on a motorcycle — was another step.

"That's part of the healing process, to meet parents of other Marines and soldiers who died and just be able to talk to them," he said.

On his way home, Prazynski made a spur-of-the-moment 300-mile side trip.

"I went up to Arlington (National Cemetery) and visited Taylor's grave, and the other Cincinnati fallen heroes and the other men he served with. That's part, I guess, of how I deal with things," he said.

"I spent most of Saturday afternoon in Arlington. It's just peaceful; I could probably sit there for days, seriously."

"Better" approach or YOUR approach?

[KOPBET]

Cindy WHO?

[Greenie]

Cindy WHO?

Sheehan

[KOPBET]

Sheehan

Doesn't ring a bell...

[Greenie]

Doesn't ring a bell...

Whatever.............

[Bioscache2]

how about genuine approach versus forced and fabricated approach? Also honoring versus grandstanding works as well.

[Greenie]

how about genuine approach versus forced and fabricated approach? Also honoring versus grandstanding works as well.

That works from YOUR point of view.

[Bioscache2]

no, its not that simple and a little more justified then just something off of the top of my head. Would you like me to explain?

[KANE]

"Better" approach or YOUR approach?

Well, yeah. He is HELPING others versus further polarizing people.

[Greenie]

no, its not that simple and a little more justified then just something off of the top of my head. Would you like me to explain?

realy not necessary. Your sig picture and the quote youve posted explain your position. We just disagree.

[Greenie]

Well, yeah. He is HELPING others versus further polarizing people.

Polarizing? There are plenty of people who agree with Cindy. Further more, there are plenty of people who do not agree with "him". Arent BOTH polarizing???

[Bioscache2]

realy not necessary. Your sig picture and the quote youve posted explain your position. We just disagree.

I was afraid you were gonna do it, look at one info you have about me and just assume here's another soldier who's convinced hes right so let me clarify. First I said genuine versus forced and fabricated. One piece that Cindy constantly omits in her 'quest' to see the president is that she already did and during that time thanked him for his support etc. No she may have always disliked the war but this didn't come up in her meeting with the President the first time. I don't know what changed her mind but suddenly she could use her son's death to give fuel to her movement and then she demanded a second meeting (the second part she frequently leaves off). Now I'm sure shes truly broken up about her son but to turn on a dime about how she received it and then use it to further a political statement (regardless of how you feel about the war, its a political statement) would greatly hint at being less then genuine.

As for honoring versus grandstanding well I already touched on it. The marine father's intentions were to help other soldiers, raise, money for them. Thats both constructive and not political in nature. Who would be polarizing over people helping injured soldiers or even soldiers in general. Now will the father be used to further the war cause.......probably and thats political, but thats not the father's original intent. Now Cindy, well she pulled the reversal I mentioned above and then that wasn't enough. She had to write and sell a book furthering that cause etc. In addition she constantly claims that this is what her son would have wanted except that her entire family disagrees and have distanced themselves as well as being outraged over her actions, indicating this is not what her son would have wanted. I can't tell for sure but I'd be more willing to go with the majority of the family here, who have nothing to gain from it; then the one person, who has something to gain and who changed their stance on it. Now, given that, then I think its absolutely horrid to use her son's sacrifice as a political jumping platform.

Those soldiers out there, they don't ask for much in return for what they do and they certainly deserve much more, but part of what they ask for is for people to not forget them and why they did it. Something I think Cindy forgot long ago. And maybe its the grief, which I'm sure is something I can't compare to yet, but that doesn't make it right.

So do we disagree on the war......probably, but what I wrote above has nothing to do with that.

[KOPBET]

The marine father's intentions were to help other soldiers, raise, money for them. Thats both constructive and not political in nature. Who would be polarizing over people helping injured soldiers or even soldiers in general.

Unfortunately, some moronic people consider soldiers to be disgusting and immoral, [and] anything that anyone else would do to further the soldier's well-being is also disgusting and immoral. It's incredible we have people like that today.

[AdvancedAutoCC]

Unfortunately, some moronic people consider soldiers to be disgusting and immoral. Anything that anyone else would do to further demean the soldier's well-being is also disgusting and immoral. It's incredible we have people like that today.

Is that what you meant? (I added the word demean to clarify) As a father of a soldier currently deployed, I have no time for people like that, Kop.

I think Jack Nicholson said it best:

"We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to."

God Bless that Marine's father for doing what he feels honors his son's sacrifice.