"My cousin is dead. He was killed in Iraq."

[MiniMandaRuth]

I re-read the line again and again, trying to make sense of it. I had just received it from one of my friends online. I knew that his cousin was in Iraq, and I knew that he was supposed to come home in about a month.

I clicked on the e-mail, hands almost shaking. I read the message, shaking my head.

"He was killed a few days ago. He was twenty. He was my best friend. He was a poet. He was a fighter. He was a believer. He was my brother. He was my parent. He was my rock. He was my heart. He was my hope."

That's all he said.

And now, I post this message, feeling tears once again come to my eyes.

No one can ever replace that cousin. No money, no oil, no... pride... can ever make up for that human life lost.

Before he died, he sent an e-mail home to him.

"I know that what I'm doing is right, or at least that's what I want to think. Everyday, I see people die, blown to pieces. Women, picking up children and husbands, most missing limbs and even their heads, crying.

I found myself weeping when a little boy, no older than five, sat beside his father and bawled. He did not know what had happened to his father, he did not know. When I walked over, I saw a country in his soulful eyes. They were dark, lost, broken. I asked him if he knew english. He nodded. He said, mostly in Iraqi, that his mom had been killed. He was an only child. His entire family had died. I gave him a hug. It was all I could do.

I miss you all. I hope that I can come home, and stay home. I hate this war. I hate what it is doing to all of us.

That little boy I was talking about... I forgot to mention... He died of starvation two days ago. I helped bury him, I was actually the only one doing it. I put a rock on top of the little mound, and wrote one word. The single word that all of us were waiting for:

'Freedom'

I feel like I'm trapped in Hell, like I'm stuck in a valley that I cannot get out of.

If death is the only freedom, then I hope that God gives it to me."

That was the last they heard from him.

:cry:

[FreedomAngel82]

1. How horrible

:cry: :hug: This war truly is breaking all of our souls. It's so sad. :( At least now the little boy isn't a lone and hopefully is reunited with his family. :cry:

[brokensymmetry]

2. Nominated. Kicked.

More reasons to get out. Now.

And even though it may not mean much - please accept my sympathy, MiniMandaRuth.

[MiniMandaRuth]

3. I sent this fourm to him.

He'll probably either break down crying, or send me a death ray.

[question everything]

4. This is awful. How terrible, how sad

for the family and friends of this young man.

How sad for his parents, to bury their son, instead of the normal chain of events.

I hope that the family and friends of this brave man can get in contact with other families to help and support each other.

Those of us, lucky enough not to have lost a loved one there, can only sympathize, but cannot really really understand what they feel.

Please accept my condolences, even though they sound so hollow..

[XOKCowboy]

5. How sad...

My heart goes out to you and to his family. He sounds like a wonderful person.

[Maraya1969]

6. I am so sorry for all of you. I don't know what else to say.

:grouphug:

[faithnotgreed]

7. his email is so powerful

his death - and those of the iraqis he speaks of - so needless

my prayers for him and his family and every single one whose lives are devastated by this cabal

[napi21]

8. I didn't know that soldier, but I'm crying now. That letter needs to

be on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX! That is the true words of this so called war! I don't know if his family would release it to the media, but those the words everyone needs to hear! The real feelings of the boots on the ground in that hell hole!


They should be sent in a public letter to Shrub and Cheney!

HERE'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!!!

[sleipnir]

9. I wish he had not received his final request.

He sounded like a good man, one who would go on to lead or write...how sad....

No, you know what, it's more than "sad" it's a God-damn horrific waste of life over there. Words cannot express how much hatred I have towards those who started this war and have cost the lives of thousands on both sides. Death knows no allegiance to friend or foe, we must fight to end the war and spare more death and destruction.

Greed, death all for petty greed. Sometimes the human species amazes me, sometimes it sickens me to my core.

May we all find our own Freedom...

[Hissyspit]

kick (nominated, too)

[babylonsister]

10. Oh, my dear, how sad

I feel for you, your friend, his cousin, the little boy, and all those who have suffered as a result of this senseless war. :cry:

[niallmac]

11. I hope your cousin has some peace now,

some freedom. What a waste of humanity all because of that phony Texan.
Thank you for including your cousins thoughts and description of what our great
leader is also doing to the innocents in Iraq.
Sorry Lance. I think you should stick a nail in his bike tire and go home. Your
friend is a war criminal.
This needs to be kicked and read.

[Kire]

12. My cousin is headed there, soon.

x(

[me b zola]

28. We are here for you, Kire, and for your cousin too

:grouphug:


There are many DUers that have loved ones in Iraq or are about to be deployed there. I hope that all of you form a network of support for each other.

[WiseButAngrySara]

13. This is one of so many tragic tales that don't get covered because of

the importance of one young woman (already dead)in Aruba that requires 24 hour news coverage! :sarcasm:

Read this post by sintax: Sintax stands at a busy intersection every day with the banner reading: "Cindy's son volunteered and died; Barbara's son deserted and lied"...A man honked his horn and raised his hand in support, stopped traffic, and said that HIS cousin had died one week prior to his return home. The madness must end!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4410440

[Copperred]

14. ......

[AwakeAtLast]

15. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} to you and your family.

My husband has been there for a few months now. As I read the e-mail, I could almost hear my husband's voice in it. He says some of the same things, but not quite so eloquently.

Someone in the media should plaster his words all over the place.

So, so sorry for your loss. Prayers to you for comfort and peace.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[JanusAscending]

16. I'm speechless.

What can be said at a time like this?.....I'm sorry for your loss, and send big:hug: Not one can say "I know how you feel" because each of us grieves in his own way. I can empathize with you though. I was going to say that I've lost four loved ones in the past 3 yrs., but when I stopped and thought about it, the count is actually six. I've lost two cousins younger than myself this past year alone. They didn't die for "Lies" though, and that is the SADDEST THING that can be said. God wrap his arms around you all, and much Love!

[SuniSurf]

17. Words are Inadequate

My tears are flowing and my heart is breaking for all of you.

[applegrove]

18. Sorry. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

19. My sympathy to you and your friend

I hope there is some way that the last email from this fallen soldier can be published. It is so powerful. Sounds like this man was a great guy and a good soldier.

What a waste. And reading tonight's WP story on the Iraqi militias we seemed to have turned Iraq from the Iron Rule of One Tinhorn dictator to dangers of fundamentalist rule by hundreds of petty religious dictators and corrupted politicos with their own gangs of thugs(many in police and military uniform). Life may even be worse for the ordinary Iraqi.

I bet most of us here know someone in Iraq and hope they will return safely. I :cry: that your friend's cousin will not be one of them.

[progressoid]

20. .

[Catrina]

21. I am so sorry

What a beautiful writer he was ~

When I walked over, I saw a country in his soulful eyes. They were dark, lost, broken.

Why are little boys dying of starvation in a country to which hundreds of billions of dollars have been sent?

This is heart-breaking ~ he sounded so despairing, which is no wonder when you think of what he had been exposed to, at 20 years old. And the little boy? How could that have happened, is it so bad there that a small boy who lost his parents, had no one to take care of him?

I don't know what to say ~ and I wonder how many more stories like this there are ~ :cry: :patriot:

[understandinglife]

22. We each know what we must do. Bush and Cheney and the neoconsters ...

... must be removed.

We must bring the Nation to a halt until that happens.

We owe it to this soldier and all those who have died in Bush's illegal war of aggression and occupation of Iraq.

Nothing else matters now.

We must remove them and bring them to justice.

Nothing else matters until that is done.


Peace.

[Swamp Rat]

23. I fear for my cousin.

:scared: :mad: :cry: :grr:

[OhioChick]

24. I'm sorry

to hear this. Prayers for you and the family. This is so sad.

[Gronk Groks]

25. Sincerest condolences,

This is why you NEVER start a war unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary.

[progressivebydesign]

26. My sympathies to your friend. What a terrible loss..

The world needs more souls like your friend's cousin. What a loss for all of us to lose someone who can see the war and the world that way. RIP.

[phusion]

27. OK...This may have just prodded my ass to go to DC on the 24th.

Now, what can I sell to get there?

:cry:

[Surya Gayatri]

29. A wave of nausea while reading this...

Kicked/
In the name of humanity, what have we done? Prayers for this man's soul, for his family, and for the whole world in the aftermath of this insanity. ;(

[mopaul]

30. ...................

[IdaBriggs]

31. Complete and utter heartfelt sympathies.....nt

[Hubert Flottz]

32. Bush has to get on with his life, he can't let dead soldiers bother

his "Beautiful Mind"

[JNelson6563]

33. "We don't care!

shouted the kool-aid drinking freepers.

What a nightmare. How many lives are we wasting with this war? Where is the "pro-life" crowd on this?

Julie

[Tigress DEM]

51. And he paid for the right for them to open their hate spewing mouths.

Paid the dearest price of all.

:patriot: :cry:

[scarletlib]

34. No words of mine could ever express the depth of pain,

the loss, the emptiness. Life goes on but is never the same again. May time bring your cousin comfort over his loss.

[Im with Rosey]

35. This is heart-breaking

Why is it that those of us that read so many of these stories seem to be the only ones that care? Why is it that the horrible monsters that created this lifetime of horror for so many are not forced to feel the pain that was in this writer's heart and soul? I am not a vengeful person but...These animals(no insult to animals intended) must be held accountable for the life-changing agony they have caused. I'm going to start by sending this to each of the corporate media, I am going to make copies to give to each and every person of faith I can find, and I will also send to Olberman with the hope that he will show once again he has the courage to address the unpopular position.

[Gay Green]

36. Words cannot expressed how empty and heartbroken I feel

:cry:

[Fridays Child]

37. Another family torn apart but King Cretin had a good bike ride, yesterday.

He is getting on with his life, you know.

:mad:

[FlaGranny]

38. I hope your friend

will send his cousin's e-mail to some newspapers to see if they will publish it. If not, maybe he will let you do it.

Heartbreaking death and heartbreaking e-mail.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

39. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family..... words cannot

portray what we all feel while reading this... this is tragedy beyond what any person should ever even come close to, much less live with..... kicked nominated, wish it finds its way to the front pages of newspapers across the nation.

[bribri16]

40. You have my deepest sympathy. I lost my brother in Viet Nam.

It is just so terrible; I mourn with your family.

[GOPFighter]

41. Killed by Compassionate Conservatism

:nuke:

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

42. This is such a tragic loss

The soldier, the parents, the child...

It is a beautifully written letter and should get more exposure. Michael Moore posts letters from soldiers on his site. Your friend should send it there and to the editors of his local newspapers

[sunnystarr]

43. This hit me so hard I just broke down crying ...

The image of that little boy will always be with me. So will these words:

I feel like I'm trapped in Hell, like I'm stuck in a valley that I cannot get out of.

If death is the only freedom, then I hope that God gives it to me."

He's free now and in peace.

[ComerPerro]

44. oh God, I'm so sorry to hear that.

[proud patriot]

45. My deepest condolences

:cry: I vow to keep opposing this war and bring our
children home ...:cry: 20 :cry: FUCK

[methinks2]

46. OMG!

I have tears in my eyes. A wise man once said that the real problem with war is that the wrong people die.

(my war protest poster had pictures of children and said that this is collateral damage. Someone threw coffee on it and me!)

[BrklynLiberal]

47. Condolences to you and your friend's family. I would guess that his

cousin's sentiments are shared by most of the soldiers over there.

This is another part of pain this war brings to those involved in the fighting.
It is beyond sad that the only freedom they can find is in death.

Then those of us back home are left to mourn for them, and cry for the loss of their love and their lives and sadly, even for their innocence.

There are no words.

:grouphug: :cry:

[immoderate]

48. This is really shocking.

I feel like I'm trapped in Hell, like I'm stuck in a valley that I cannot get out of.

If death is the only freedom, then I hope that God gives it to me."

How horrible that decent people should be pushed to the point that they wish for their own death.

--IMM

[julialnyc]

49. I'm so sorry

My thoughts and prayers.

This is so sad that I don't even know what to say :(

[Mythsaje]

50. Well, I'm crying now...

bleeding heart that I am...

[bnr65432]

52. sorry