Pfc. Michael J. Metcalf, 22, Boynton Beach, Fla.

False. Every soldier haz the duty by the UCMJ to question all orders for legality. Afghan Iraq has always been an illegal occupation.

 

That kid died for nothing.

His family, especially his parents may want to believe in idealistic excuses. maybe they are told by the usa goverment and military brass. "He died for freedom"

It will give them comfort.

But what has his unfourante death changed for the positive to the conflict?

 

The only way to give his death meaning is to try and prevent optional wars in the future. The Vietnam activists thought they had made a significant impact to this end and for a brief period, they did. However, the Bush/Obushama admins quickly learned the best way to maintain optional wars is to avoid the Draft.

 

Legality does not equal morality. They can refuse orders to shoot unarmed civilians, however when they're told to go, they get to go. War was declared and now they get to go overseas.

 

I just want to say that this "kid" was one of my absolute best friends. You all need to remember that his friends and family can easily pull this up (just like I did). I'm just saying this because it's supposed to be in support and in memory of him but instead it's made into a battle of who's right and wrong? Who's got the bigger balls and more advanced vocabulary and knowledge of policy? Give me a break and get over yourselves. A soldier lost his life fighting a war. A mother and father lost their ONLY child. Mike joined because that was who he was. He was the military academy boy, the adventure seeking young man. He knew this could happen. He knew he'd be deployed. He was well aware. And yeah, I personally tried talking him out of enlisting because I was terrified of losing him, but this was something HE wanted to do and that's all that matters. He wasn't there against his will. He was fighting for something he OBVIOUSLY believed in. To say he died for no reason is a slap in the face to him, to me, to his mom and dad, to his family, to his friends, to his platoon brothers/sister, to ANYONE who cares about him... ESPECIALLY coming from those who didn't know him. Please throw "it's freedom of speech" at me but as far as I'm concerned, those of you who didn't know him have NO right to even say his name unless you're saying "Thank You and God Bless" because at the end of the day, it wasn't you, your child, or your best friend that lost their life.