Local LTTE Critisizes Dead Soldier's Mother Sue Niederer

[HFishbine]

I am a spouse of an active-duty soldier deployed in Iraq. After reading about the incident that took place between Sue Niederer and First Lady Laura Bush last week in New Jersey, I can no longer silently witness such extreme melodrama from liberal fanatics.

Sue Niederer made it clear that her son joined the ultimate fighting force in the world to score on cash and make it through school. The real soldier in the military joins for one reason and one reason only -- to protect, defend and fight for the American people.

College, cash bonuses and travel are part of the package deal to inspire soldiers and to mold a well-rounded and educated soldier. Niederer admitted to the entire country that her son only wanted the bonuses and that actually earning his paycheck was not an option.

No one forced this woman's son to join the military during wartime and take a paycheck for doing his job -- which happens to be sacrificing in death, if need be, for the safety of his platoon, his company, his peers, friends and fellow Americans. I don't believe her son really felt that he was put upon to do his duty when his time came.

I believe she dishonors his memory and the memories of other soldiers who lost their lives fighting for what they believe in. So, where is my interview? Or is it only emotional mental wrecking balls who get those? I'm waiting.

Cassie Allen

High Point (North Carolina)

http://www.news-record.com/news/opinions/letters/sat_letters_100204.htm

You may submit a Letter to the Editor here: http://www.news-record.com/news/opinions/letterstoeditor.shtml

[Inland]

1. "He got a paycheck. Don't expect us to care more than that."

[cardlaw]

2. We'll

see if her tune changes if, God forbid, her husband is killed in Iraq. Until then, she can shut it.

[NoPasaran]

3. The inhumanity of these Pukes is amazing

What scum

[zbdent]

4. I wonder how many times this exact same letter appeared

in various papers around the US - with, of course, different, "local" people as the "writers".

A.K.A. Astro-turf

[Florida_Geek]

6. Sometime to Google on in a couple days.

:evilgrin:

[Vickers]

5. 'The real soldier in the military joins for one reason and one reason..."

"...and one reason only -- to protect, defend and fight for the American people."

I spent 8 years in the military, and I never met a person who remotely resembles her description. She is a lunatic.

[calimary]

43. Hmm - if you'll examine many of the stories of the folks in uniform

during this debacle, from Jessica Lynch to Lynndie England, you'll find MOST of them wound up in the Army because they had NO OTHER OPTIONS in their young lives, and it was the ONLY way to set yourself up for a job, or to earn the money for college. Both those women were examples of this, if you'll read their backgrounds.

This woman is incomprehensibly heartless, especially toward another woman - who's lost her son to this war. You'd think she'd show at least a tiny bit of sympathy. Wait til it happens to her...

Can you write a letter to the editor, knocking this one down a peg? Several of us should. Think I'll work on one, myself. Hers must NOT be permitted to be the last word on this.

[calimary]

45. I just finished my LTTE and sent it off. Here it is:

Regarding Cassie Allen’s letter criticizing Sue Niederer for protesting the war at a Laura Bush rally – I wonder if Ms. Allen realizes that one of the things her husband is fighting for is Sue Niederer’s right to speak out. If I’d lost MY son in Iraq – a war I NEVER supported, I’d be shoulder-to-shoulder with Sue now.

Cassie, if you’ll read about American soldiers from Jessica Lynch to Lynndie England, you’ll find that most of them saw the military as their ONLY way out – either to earn money for college or to find job training – because they had no other hope at home. I recall one Lt. Bush, back in the early 70’s, who wrote that joining the Texas Air National Guard would allow him not to fight for his country but to “better myself by learning to fly airplanes.” Many unsuspecting young people are wooed into the military with false promises by recruiters (“Fahrenheit 9/11” documented one of many examples). Besides, this entire war was one huge false promise.

Cassie, it’s not Sue Niederer who dishonors her son’s memory by speaking out about this war. It’s people like you who judge and condemn her in her grief. I hope and pray that you NEVER have to walk in her shoes, or share her needless, senseless loss.

Finally, I’d respectfully suggest you avoid reading about our country’s founders. You might find it upsetting. Too many of your despised “liberal fanatics” among them.

(signed - me)
An online reader in Los Angeles

[Kanary]

47. Yeouch!!! You pinched her in a much more civilized way than I did.......

and I hope it gives her nightmares.

:evilgrin:

Ya done good...... maybe you should take up writing........ :evilgrin:

Kanary

[calimary]

49. Thanks, girlfriend. Same back at you, too!

This just got me DAMNED MAD! I regret I forgot the "shame on you!" part like noiretblu did. THAT needs to be said, too.

REALLY LOUDLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[noiretextatique]

7. outrageous...these people have no shame

:puke: sickening. personally, i think letters like this can only help. anyone with an ounce of decency will be appalled by her callousness, disrespect and cruelty.

[Mikimouse]

8. We'll see how she feels when her spouse come home...

in a bag. Stupid idiot. Perhaps someone should make a copy of her letter and send it to her to remind her of her own words when that happens.

[Kanary]

9. Don't kid yourself..... this is now the tone of a great portion of society

The total lack of compassion for another, in order to prop up one's beliefs, is sickening to see in action.

We also have to look at ourselves, and find that there are parts of this in all of us now. Our society has become cold, and we can see signs of that here, too.

The clue that we, as a society, are losing our soul is that when a victim of this sort of heartlessness complains about it, they are told to "get a skin", "toughen up", etc.

Kanary

[Mikimouse]

14. Sadly, that seems to have become the American mantra...

"Get over it and go on with your life."

[Misunderestimator]

10. "soldiers who lost their lives fighting for what they believe in"

And what do they believe in? Lies. Some may have joined "to protect, defend and fight for the American people" but that's not even close to what they are actually doing now. Most joined because it was a job, and they were duped into believing that job had the perk of "protecting and defending America." Still many others joined for the money and the machismo and to go get them some AY-RABS.

I hate this kind of patriotic bullshit when the real truth is obvious.

[noiretextatique]

11. my letter to the editor

Cassie Allen: Shame on you!
And shame on this newspaper for publishing such an ugly and hateful letter.
A mother lost her son while he was serving this country...how dare you question his motives for joining the military!!! How dare you characterize this mother's grief as some weakness or mental illness.
Cassie Allen: whatever temporary thrill you got from writing such cruel and awful words, the condemation you will receive for airing such ugliness will follow you forever.

it helps to spell "editor" correctly

[HFishbine]

12. Wow!

Pretty strong. I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks.

[Kanary]

17. Cassie Allen's heartless expression of criticism towards the mother

of a slain serviceman is a brazen example of how our nation is losing it's very soul in order to prop up beliefs that are being questioned. It is shocking, to say the least, just how cruel we, as a people, have become.

I would remind Ms. Allen that:
a. The service of this slain young man meant that her *own* children were not required to serve!

b. When the draft was abolished in favor of an all-volunteer military, it was OPEN KNOWLEDGE that many (if not most) of those who would be signing up would do so BECAUSE they were too poor to afford the benefits that the Ms. Allens of this nation take for granted. That is the very nature of an All-Volunteer military. That was just fine at the time for the Ms. Allens of this nation, as they rested in the comfort that their families were now off the hook. To then loudly proclaim some sort of selfishness and "you got what you deserved" attitude towards these non-affluent citizens makes a mockery of our very society.

Ms. Allen, I pray for your dark soul, and that there will be no spreading of this cancerous venom you shamelessly promote.
****************

Whaddya think........ does that do it?

:)

[noiretextatique]

25. perfect

you are so right: this type of cruelty is shocking and disgusting. and it's time for decent people to say so.
:thumbsup:

[Kanary]

26. thank you, noiretblu! It gave me a pleasurable jolt to send that

LTTE!

"it's time for decent people to say so."

Absolutely! We complain about our spineless politicians....... well, it's time for us to do *our* part, also. They've gotten away with so much because we have been silent complainers.

To the verbal barricades! ~~chortle~~

Kanary

[noiretextatique]

28. to the verbal barricades!

:toast: indeed, we need to do our part to upgrade the public discourse.

[Kanary]

29. "Let there be peace, and let it begin with me"

sigh........ why does it have to be so *HARD*???

And, if you come back with some *stuff* about *'s "hard work" junk, all bets on non-violence are off! :)

Kidding of course....... :hi:

Kanary, who's pleased to meet another public discourser upgrader...... :toast:

[noiretextatique]

32. it's so hard because these loudmouths make more noise

and it's difficult to counter such noise with logic. we need to SHAME these people back to humanity. at lunch the other day, a wingnut i work with started questioning kerry's military record, and i told her that tactic was disgraceful and indicative of the lack of honesty and substance of her party's leaders..neither of whom served in the military AT ALL. and i told her: you should be ashamed of
denigrating the honorable service of anyone, including democrats.
honest disageement is one thing, but charater assisination is quite another.
i say:
make them feel the STING of their ugly words!!!

there is no honor in acquiescing to verbal violence and inhumanity as simple "a difference of opinion."

let peace begin with me...by telling the truth!

[TahitiNut]

54. Ahhh... someone who knows the prayer I say daily.

Amazing.

Here's a reminder ...
"What you resist controls you."

For me, this is a summation of a profound and deep "learning experience." I now use this reminder as an anchor for my sanity.
(Assuming I have any, of course.) :silly:

We're in a war. We need to understand some martial arts. This is a theme in such martial arts. Seeing the deep truth in this helps us deploy our very selves more effectively.

[calimary]

46. Hear, HEAR! Couldn't have said it better, Kanary!

LIKE your letter, and the others here, a LOT. I sent one, too. These things NEED to be said, and as Kanary just put it - "we complain about our spineless politicians" but then do we just give up and wind up imitating them?

If people like Cassie Allen are allowed to have the last word, it will be presumed that theirs is the PREVAILING word. The MAJORITY word. The ONLY word.

Does that work for you?

[Kanary]

50. That ship sailed, calimary........ you already did, and I already read it.

~~gigglesnort~~

We can't muzzle these clowns, but we sure can sharpen our skills to add our voices to the mix.

We may not be able to peacefully convert someone as far gone as Cassie, but we sure can influence fencesitters who read the same hateful drivel.

Kanary, who wants calimary to watch her PM box for -- INCOMING--! :hi:

[HFishbine]

36. Yeah. man!

That sounds great!

[calimary]

48. Beauty!

"Shame on you" is a GREAT line, and VERY well deserved by this Cassie Allen person. She should be down on her knees thanking God that her husband isn't boxed up in some nice coffin like Sue Niederer's son is now.

[young_at_heart]

13. Dear Cassie, was the son forced to die for what HE (or Bush) believed in?

You claim it was his duty to invade Iraq and die if necessary. Since our country wasn't in imminent danger, his paycheck and "duty" to protect our country shouldn't be what you are focusing on. How do YOU know what the soldiers were/are fighting for and what each of them believes in?

[tabasco]

15. "which happens to be sacrificing in death, if need be..."

The lady doesn't address the "if need be" portion of her statement. That part seems to escape a lot of the kool-aid crowd. There was no need for ONE soldier to die in Iraq. There was NO NEED for this soldier to die.

[mitchum]

16. Shameless and sickening

[Puglover]

18. This "woman"

is a life support system for a bag of shit. Can any other DUers out there even conceive writing such a hate filled screed of a letter? Jesus.

[MS68]

19. First post ever!

Okay, I decided it was time to quit lurking and start posting.

I don't think the "he didn't actually think he was going to have to do what he was trained to do for those benefits!" line will cut it in this argument. If you sign up, you have to be prepared to go-even if you don't personally believe in the cause.

What I do think is that our country needs to figure out a way for people to get an education and make a decent living without signing up to lose their lives, and they need to honest and forthright about what the benefits and entail and what the risks are.

I also believe that if you do decide it is worth the risk, that you can depend on the leader of your country to not be frivolous in making decisions that could result in the loss of your life. You need to be able to trust that you will be sent to fight when there's absolutely no other way to maintain the security of our country and when all other alternatives have been exhausted.

[MS68]

20. Oops..

Okay, my first message wasn't all that articulate!

They need to be honest about what the benefits involve and what the risks are.

And you SHOULD be able to count on your government to make the right decisions that could cost you your life and only go in as a last resort.

[HFishbine]

37. Very articulate

Well done and welcome to DU!

[mitchum]

21. Welcome to DU, MS68!

[MS68]

22. Thanks for the welcome!

[Puglover]

23. Welcome MS68!

:toast:

[Kanary]

24. You were right the first time......

"What I do think is that our country needs to figure out a way for people to get an education and make a
decent living without signing up to lose their lives, "

That's precisely the crux of the matter! No other industrialized country in the world makes it so difficult for those without family means to get a good education. If this nation isn't purposefully setting up an underclass to be the cannon fodder and slave labor, it certainly is doing a great job of imitating it! We, as a people, are going to have to develop the will to force the issue about getting free education for ALL, from pre-school through college, as Dennis Kucinich advocates. All of our complaining about inequities will result in nada, until we put our energies into making these changes.

Second, many (if not most) of these kids join up in order to receive medical care, as their families aren't able to provide that for them, and they aren't able to get a job that provides it. We also must put in the effort to achieve UNIVERSAL SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE!! We can do this!

This is not "pie-in-the-sky" talk. This is simply what a decent society does.

Let's commit ourselves to doing the decent thing.

Kanary

[TahitiNut]

27. Military service is an act of faith ...

... faith in a representative democracy and faith in We the People. When a person surrenders much of their liberty and subordinates themselves to the "duly constituted" political leadership of this nation, they are, in a very real sense putting their lives in the hands of the People of the United States, subordinating their will to that faith.

It's an exchange of trust. The People trust in the military to defend the nation, and those who serve place a trust in the People to honor their sacrifice - a sacrifice of their autonomy.

I felt that faith and trust was betrayed when I returned from Vietnam. I can only believe that our military today will feel that betrayal even more so.

[Kanary]

30. Dang! ANother fine LTTE you've written, TahitiNut.......

:toast:

I see a business in your future........

~~chortle~~

To the verbal barricades! :)

Kanary

[TahitiNut]

34. (grin) It takes me a looong time to figure out a lot of these things.

This one's something I've noodled over ever since I was a sophomore in high school (45 years ago) and set off in the direction of the military as a career by applying to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. (Thank Goddess my asspirations were truncated at the end of my second year there.)

At that rate, newspapers would go out of business before I accumulated enough comprehension to articulate a decent perspective on many issues. :evilgrin:

[noiretextatique]

35. don't be modest :)

you're one wise and articulate comprehender :hi:

[Kanary]

44. "We get too soon old and too late schmardt"

:hi:

Hallelujiah! You're even older than I am.

:toast:

Kanary, who isn't saying how long it takes *her* to formulate thoughts....... :)

[calimary]

52. Welcome to DU! Good post, especially the last paragraph.

It WOULD be nice if you could depend on the "leader" of your country not to go to war because he thought America's role in the world should be to go out and pick fights with people. Especially the unnecessary ones or the ones based on LIES. (Only thing John Kerry did wrong in the debate - he still doesn't seem ready or willing to use the "L" word - LIES - hopefully that'll change...).

[Eloriel]

31. I'll take the extreme melodrama of a grieving mother over

the unfeeling, partisan rants of the Cassie Allen's of this world any day. I find it appalling that anyone could question or demean the patriotism of any of our troops or their grieving parents, or try to make partisan points out of a distraught mother's entirely appropriate questioning of this war.

Ms. Allen dishonors all those who are serving and dying if their motives for being in the military aren't pure enough for her taste. Maybe the services should make that a new qualification: is your reason for joining noble enough? (Hint: Military commanders don't care all that much about their motives, they just need bullet catchers and cannon -- or RPG -- fodder.) We should also let those with insufficiently pure motives for serving come home. My guess is that Mrs. Allen's husband wouldn't have all that many people left to serve with.

It's also a shame she doesn't understand the underlying economic reality that makes joining the military one of the more viable ways to secure a brighter future for the poor and disadvantaged, including the promise of citizenship for immigrants. If she doesn't think those financial perks aren't specifically designed to lure young men and women from the underclass into the military, she's living in dreamland.

[Darth_Kitten]

33. My letter***** (WARNING: Slightly Bat-Sh@T)******

Nothing galls me more than the open hostility and hatred displayed from the likes of Cassie Allen, who managed in one little letter, to display such callousness and hatred towards a grieving mother and her dead son. Is her inflated sense of importance being a soldier's wife (nothing more) give her the right to mock a dead man and his mother? My God, I cannot believe the depths some misguided and hostile individuals can sink to.

Mrs. Allen, I sincerely pity you, and I pray to God that if you have children, nobody treats them with the crazed hatred you showed a DEAD man, for crying out loud. Parents need to be loving and kind individuals. Who are you to mock a soldier's reasons for going to war? Maybe he needed an education and some cash, SO WHAT? Not everyone can have everything HANDED to them, Mrs. Allen. (hint,HINT?) You seem to have an arrogant assumption you can read the minds of others. Whatever.

You are a soldier's WIFE Mrs. Allen, not a soldier, not the mother of a dead man. You did NOT make the ultimate sacrifice. Show some basic humanity and compassion, for God's sake. Please learn to respect the dignity of a fallen soldier.

[Qanisqineq]

39. good one!

As a soldier's wife, there is nothing I hate more than soldiers' wives that have an "inflated sense of importance".

:toast:

[Darth_Kitten]

40. Thanks!

it's just she came across as totally arrogant.

I thought maybe some soldiers' wives COULD take my letter the wrong way (not my intention to put down soldiers' wives in general) but she needed to be put down a notch. I mean, don't introduce yourself as a soldier's wife, Cassie, and then berate a dead soldier and his grieving mother.

She should have known better, but obviously doesn't. :)

[Hello_Kitty]

42. Excellent! And I LOVE the 'Kitten with a Whip' in your sig. n/t

[HFishbine]

38. Thanks

To those who sent a letter. I'll watch and post here if they get published.

[Darth_Kitten]

41. All these letters are direct and well-written.......

We have some really good writers on DU. :thumbsup: Very powerful letters, IMO. :)

Congrats, all. :D :toast:

[AngryOldDem]

51. Liberal fanatic? Emotional mental wrecking balls?

My sincerest wish is that Ms. Allen never has to go through what Mrs. Niederer has.

And I'm still waiting for anyone in the administration to answer the two simple questions Mrs. Niederer asked of Pickles.

[txindy]

53. Well, it's obvious that Cassie Allen's husband

is in the military so he can get away from her without her being
able to chase after him. From what I can tell by this letter of hers, she is really that foul. :grr: