Lt. Colonel calls Pat Tillman "Worm Dirt" because he wasn't a Christian

[lwcon]

Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich described Pat Tillman as "worm dirt."

"When you die, I mean, there is supposedly a better life, right? Well, if you are an atheist and you don't believe in anything, if you die, what is there to go to? Nothing. You are worm dirt. So for their son to die for nothing, and now he is no more — that is pretty hard to get your head around that. So I don't know how an atheist thinks. I can only imagine that that would be pretty tough."

Asked by ESPN.com whether the Tillmans' religious beliefs are a factor in the ongoing investigation, Kauzlarich said, "I think so. There is not a whole lot of trust in the system or faith in the system . So that is my personal opinion, knowing what I know."

Asked what might finally placate the family, Kauzlarich said, "You know what? I don't think anything will make them happy, quite honestly. I don't know. Maybe they want to see somebody's head on a platter. But will that really make them happy? No, because they can't bring their son back."

There's a pointed joke: "What do you call a black man who graduates first in his class at Harvard Medical School." The answer is the n-word.

Well, now we know what you call an atheist who sacrifices everything for his country: worm dirt.

This indignity was brought to you by the merger of church and state.


___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[wicket]

1. Effing outrageous!!!!!

Fuck him and this stupid war.

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[hobbit709]

2. New definition

Kauzlarich=lower than whale shit.

[Missy M]

3. Gee, I wonder why there's not a "whole lot of trust in the....

system or faith in the system". What a stupid statement seeing as the circumstances of his death were covered up with lies. I've got news for the guy, we all become "worm dirt" in the end. It's all in how you live your life.

[trotsky]

4. "So I don't know how an atheist thinks."

But that sure didn't stop him from making it up and being a religious bigot.

[brentspeak]

5. So, if the Tillmans were Christian, therefore they would have "faith in the system"?

Where in the Bible does it say, "Thou shall have faith in the Army's investigative system, and not dare question it"?

[Arugula Latte]

46. It sounds like he's saying Christians will swallow anything because

they have to suspend disbelief and rationality to remain Christians.

[jody]

6. Aside from the use of "worm dirt", IMHO Kauzlarich was just saying what DU's atheists say, when

someone dies they cease to exist. :shrug:

[lwcon]

9. I can understand that reading, except...

... for the following:

* The guy clearly is dismissive of Tillman's family for being non-religious (their upset about being lied to about their son's death is because they lack "faith," rather than because the military has been conspiratorially dishonest about the most sensitive and important topic imaginable)
* It's an incredibly insensitive way to describe a dead soldier (especially coming from an official). Imagine the opposite, if he said "I don't understand how Christians think. I guess it's no big deal that Pvt. Anderson died -- he's going to heaven, anyway."


___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[jody]

36. Religious people are dismissive of irreligious people & irreligious people are dismissive of

religious people.

I support the Democratic Party which says in our 2004 platform:

We honor the central place of faith in the lives of our people. Like our Founders, we believe that our nation, our communities, and our lives are made vastly stronger and richer by faith and the countless acts of justice and mercy it inspires. We will strengthen the role of faith-based organizations in meeting challenges like homelessness, youth violence, and other social problems. At the same time, we will honor First Amendment protections and not allow public funds to be used to proselytize or discriminate. Throughout history, communities of faith have brought comfort to the afflicted and shaped great movements for justice. We know they will continue to do so, and we will always protect all Americans' freedom to worship.

We pledge to stand up for our beliefs and rally Americans to our cause. But we recognize that disagreements will remain, and we believe disagreement should not mean disrespect. Members of our party have deeply held and differing views on some matters of conscience and faith. We view diversity of views as a source of strength, and we welcome into our ranks all Americans who seek to build a stronger America. We are committed to resolving our differences in a spirit of civility, hope and mutual respect.

That's the America we believe in.

See Platform at http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

[CTLawGuy]

7. while the guy is obviously insensitive

I don't think he intended "worm dirt" to be an insult, but rather an illustration of what atheists believe happen to people when they die--their bodies decompose and they become "dirt" and nothing else.

[zanne]

11. Do Christians decompose? nt

[TacticalPeek]

14. He meant it as a taunt and insult.

Study up on the bastard and you are bound to agree.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. why was a military man talking about religion?

[formercia]

22. Because it's a Crusade

ZionistXtofascism against Islam.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Global War on Terror (GWOT) is a pretext for a modern Evangelical Christian Crusade

having a pro-Zionist component whose goal is to keep the Arabs beaten down and under submission. The goal of this unholy alliance is to manipulate events to bring about the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies on the Second Coming, while making lots of profits for their corporate backers.

[formercia]

30. You got it. n/t

[kwolf68]

23. Christians also believe that

Christians believe that the body is left here on earth to rot and you get a new heavenly body.

[formercia]

24. Please don't call these people Christians

Jesus was a man of Peace.

[kwolf68]

25. I didn't call him a Christian

Yes, Jesus was a man of peace.

This guy, like many others, have perverted religion, which is par for the course in history.

[formercia]

27. It wasn't directed at you

I was asking everyone. I apologize.

[tsuki]

37. I think LtCol "Worm Dirt" is up to his neck in worms.

"According to the Army officer who directed the first official inquiry, the Army might have more of a clue about the shooter's identity than it has let on. Asked whether ballistics work was done to identify who fired the fatal shots, Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich told ESPN.com, "I think, yeah, they did. And I think they know . But I never found out."

Was that the first botched inquiry? The one where everyone was told to Keep Quiet?

[Vickers]

8. "There is not a whole lot of trust in the system or faith in the system"

Well, at least he got THAT part right.

:eyes:

[kiteinthewind]

10. Effing Asshole

:grr:

[JNelson6563]

12. More accurately "worm shit"

The rich irony here is that this self-righteous asshole will also be worm shit. haha

We're all going to be worm-shit! The only difference is some refuse to believe it.

Julie

[Bitwit1234]

13. I am not a strict Catholic BUT

I do believe that to be a real Christian you have to love your fellow man. I don't mean condone people like serial killers etc. I mean you are forgiving of people who don't believe as you do. You try to help the less fortunate and the down trodden. And I think if you were in congress or other places of power it is your duty to do this. Didn't Jesus forgive the thief and say he would go to Paradise. That is being a true Christian.

And when I see the sanctimonious blowhards spouting the rhetoric condemning people because they don't believe and do as they do it makes me ill. They are the true demons in this world. They are they ones who spread evil and condone it and if there really is a Heaven and Hell, guess where they are going to end up.

[midnight]

15. This is all about hate. Sorry to say even christians are afflicted

with that disease. The lt. col. needs to turn inward and speculate about his after life instead of creating so many afterlifes,death, for other people.

[CoffeeCat]

16. Typical....

This comment was made when the Tillmans began questioning the inconsistencies in the military's
story.

This evil bastard Kauzlarich---a liar and a cover-up artist--pulled out a play from the
Rove playbook: When you are corrupt and evil---create a diversion by blaming the victims
and attacking those who dare to question your evil.

He was attacking the credibility of the Tillmans--by suggesting that they were God-hating
freaks who couldn't get past their grief.

Just how sick do you have to be---to use religion as a device to destroy someone, so your
lies and evil can be covered up?

People like Kauzlarich are the epitome of evil---because they will destroy anyone who tries
to expose their third-rate thuggery.

These people are complete sociopaths with no regard for humanity or decency. They definitely
aren't religious, but they will use religion to bludgeon someone into submission.

Welcome to George Bush's America!

[churchofreality]

17. Actually atheists are alot happier than those who believe in nonsense.

At least we are in touch with reality and don't pretend that everyone that has ever died is watching us have sex.

[Arugula Latte]

47. "I'd Rather Be Worm Dirt"

I'm gonna put that on my bumper ...

I'd rather be worm dirt than waste the short time I have alive on Earth by buying into nonsense, that's for sure.

[blossomstar]

18. Worm dirt is better than GOLD!

You know what, I just got a load of worm dirt, I mean REAL worm dirt, full of worm casings that worms were raised in for sportsmen to be sold in sports stores. The dirt is better than GOLD for gardening! It will grow anything bigger and better than any other product I've ever used. Literally amazing. So my friends, this asshole has unknowingly given the highest compliment one could ever give. If I were worm dirt in the end, I would be so very thankful! No one is ever really gone... we just combine with the earth. To be able to give back lush fruits and vegetables to others even after I'm gone would be "heaven"! Just my two cents.

[FloridaJudy]

20. I'd respond that I don't know how Christians think either

Were it not for all the decent, compassionate Christians I've met. I certainly don't understand how people who call themselves Christians like Kauzlarich, Falwell, Robertson and their ilk think. Criticizing the Tillmans, who have been put through hell by the American military, because they don't share your faith? That's the lowest, meanest form of religious bigotry. Don't confuse it with real faith.

[formercia]

21. Just another bit of circumstantial evidence

to show that it was really a 'fragging' incident.

It wouldn't be the first and it won't be the last.

[shenmue]

26. What's so bad about worm dirt?

Wasn't Adam supposedly made out of "the dust of the ground"?

:shrug:

[formercia]

28. Let me say it again

Please don't call these war-mongering ZionistXtoFacists, Christians.

Jesus was a man of Peace.

[IndianaGreen]

34. Were Jesus alive today, he would be an American prisoner at Guantanamo

or he would be rotting in an Israeli jail.

[formercia]

42. Client States

Palestine in Jesus' time was a client state of Rome, much like Israel is a client state of the US, so your analogy fits.

[ieoeja]

31. Atheists agree (though I would say "worm food").

"When you die, I mean, there is supposedly a better life, right? Well, if you are an atheist and you don't believe in anything, if you die, what is there to go to? Nothing. You are worm dirt. So for their son to die for nothing, and now he is no more — that is pretty hard to get your head around that. So I don't know how an atheist thinks. I can only imagine that that would be pretty tough."

"You are worm dirt," fairly sums up the Atheist feelings on post-life activity. However, he is likely way off base when he says they believe their son died for nothing. He died attempting to defend freedom and democracy. Can you imagine how the media would today be spinning "he died for nothing" if this had come from a Democrat?


Asked by ESPN.com whether the Tillmans' religious beliefs are a factor in the ongoing investigation, Kauzlarich said, "I think so. There is not a whole lot of trust in the system or faith in the system . So that is my personal opinion, knowing what I know."

This sounds horribly insulting to religious people. Kauzlarich appears to be saying that religious people would have had "faith" and supported the President's lie. Is that what passes for "good" in the Conservative set of values?

That was a rhetorical question. It actually *does* pass for good. This is one of those examples where Conservatives and Liberals think so unlike that the best we can do is walk away from each other thinking the other guy is nucking futs.


Asked what might finally placate the family, Kauzlarich said, "You know what? I don't think anything will make them happy, quite honestly. I don't know. Maybe they want to see somebody's head on a platter. But will that really make them happy? No, because they can't bring their son back."

I can see his point from just the Army perspective. They seem to have lied to Kevin for genuinely decent reasons (though I disagree with that decision as I believe well meaning lies do more harm than good). And they have admitted their lie. However, Kauzlarich seems to be overlooking the White House's political use of this lie. There was no excuse for the White House's actions.

The Army could have handled this better. But they have owned up to their mistakes. The Bush administration is another story entirely.

[Jack Rabbit]

32. He's way out of line.

I don't care if he holds those views, as long as he keeps them to himself.

[provis99]

33. I can hardly wait til this idiot Lt.Col becomes worm dirt himself

[sakabatou]

35. Karma will get him.

[Disturbed]

38. The Miltary lied and covered up with "good intentions".

They burned his clothes and his diaries for the "good of America".

We should all be grateful to our glorious Military in the Global Crusade against Islamic Evil Doers.

:eyes:

[jody]

39. I object to your statement "The Military lied". The facts are that a few people in and out of

uniform lied about Tillman, not the other 2,300,000 men and women in uniform that you slander.

[Sapere aude]

40. So he lives everyday afraid of burning in hell. He's motivated by fear of the Lord. I'd rather liv

a life free of that bull shit. I'd rather be worm dirt. Besides just because you believe something doesn't make it so.

[roguevalley]

41. This outrage was brought to you by an asshole. Don't lump all of

us together. I am personally celebrating the Wiccan victory just now. Some of us are good folks. More of us than you know.

[rodeodance]

43. This is one problem with the 7/24 "news"---Everybody gets their 15 minutes

of fame (on matter what they say)

[Locrian]

44. wormdirt

So let me get this straight - Atheists believe that living a fulfilling, happy life is better than being dead - where there is no afterlife. But Christofacists believe that it's better (or "ok") to die because there is some afterlife (like 72 virgins or rasins or whatever).

Sounds to me like the atheists value life more vs a "death cult" mentality.

[knitter4democracy]

45. What an incredibly insensitive assholic thing to say.

First of all, last I checked, no one has read the Book of Life, so no one knows who's going to heaven or not. For all we know, he is in a better place.

Secondly, to be so nasty about a grieving and furious mother who lost her amazing son and then was repeatedly lied to for years is so beyond the pale that it makes my teeth hurt from grinding. He had no right to attack her. I'm sure if he were in her position, he'd be furious, too.

Btw, head on a platter? So, is he comparing her to Herod or Salome, wanting the head of St. John the Baptist on a platter? What a jerk.