"His Army life insurance made his dream come true."

[trof]

Just reported by Bob Schieffer on CBS Evening News.

His dream was to buy his mom a house.
He was killed today in Iraq.
His Army insurance evidently will be enough to buy the house he wanted for her.

I wonder which she'd rather have?
Her son?
Or the house?
I bet I know.

If I were Bob Schieffer, I don't think I would have said that.
:-(

[DIKB]

1. It all depends

on HOW he said it. Sadly with a bit of sarcasm ? It's fitting. Upbeat and optimistic ? Offensive.

[trof]

3. Irony? Maybe a bit of sarcasm.

But not nearly enough.

[ikojo]

2. WTF? Mom, I want to join the army and get killed

just so you can have a house!

Now isn't THAT a new spin on the American dream?

:sarcasm:

Join the Army
Get Killed
Buy mom a house!

:sarcasm:

[gratuitous]

4. Sounds like "The Monkey's Paw" to me

Short story by W.W. Jacobs in which a cursed monkey's paw granted three wishes, which would come true in the most heinous fashion. The first wish, for a sum of money, comes true when the woman making the wish finds out her son just died in an industrial accident and the death benefit is exactly the sum of money wished for.

The rest of story isn't any more cheerful.

[trof]

5. Very good. I had thought it was Somerset Maughm.

[tatertop]

9. that is one depressing story

[Geoff R. Casavant]

22. Strangely enough that happened to me

Had a monkey's paw, made a wish, then found out my uncle had died and his insurance policy paid off exactly what I had wished for.

If I had known, I suppose I would have said something other than, "I'd really like a big ham sandwich."

:-)

[ChiciB1]

6. A Truly Crappy Story....

I suppose Schieffer "might' have been thinking he was making a point about the war and how totally WRONG it has been. However, that's a story I don't think I like hearing.

I just caught the tail end (actually only a snippet) on Lou Dobbs about a soldier that is being denied his insurance or something.


Anyone have the details???

[Hidden Stillness]

7. Maybe a Deeper Level, Where You Don't React So Quickly

I didn't hear the story, so I don't know how it was said, but to me it has a very moving, tragic sound to it--of the kind of "irony" on a deep level, that O. Henry wrote fictional stories about during the 19th century. It can be taken as a very anti-war statement, (although I don't know if it was), as if things are so futile and hopeless that the only way we ever win, is if we don't exist at all anymore. We can never earn things in this world, since the capitalists took over everything and took it all away; you either have your life, and nothing, or the wonderful thing will happen, but only if you are not there...

It seems to be one of those stories that are told on the news from time to time, just so you can feel the pain and futility of it.

[Cha]

8. Whoa, dude! Not quite what he

had in mind. Not a fair deal.

[ChiciB1]

10. So... Splain???

I didn't hear him either, I was just guessing myself.

[Cha]

11. I was writing about

the soldier..and it not being what he had in mind.

Did you see this ad by a high school kid?

http://www.blah3.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=108

[ChiciB1]

12. Smart Kid!!

Now if ONLY most of the others out there would "take heed!"

The mood has changed, even since I went to D.C. and marched!!

We just need to get some heavy hitting Democrats on board!

[Cha]

13. Yes, we've come so

far since I protested on Feb 15, 2003 in NYC and as you say even since you were there in D.C. in the last throes of Sept.

I hear Gephardt said he was "wrong on Iraq" the other day..when Are the Dems who voted for the IWR going to say the same?

[ChiciB1]

14. You Know, I Posted The Same Thing A Couple Of Days Ago...

I think it's LONG past time where the Democrats could EASILY come out and say "I as wrong" and if they wanted to even say they were mislead by Bad Intel!!

Why this hasn't happened is just too amazing to me. I'm one of those here at DU who is extremely upset with the Democrats for not walking through a WIDE OPEN DOOR!!

The ones who have made attempts and have stood up and spoken out have YET to get real help from the Heavy Hitters in Congress. This is ONE of my main reasons for refusing to donate to the DNC or others as I have in the past! Even today, CNN says the Dems have a 52% to 39% poll lead over the Repukes in Congress.

I can only think it's Corporate money and any other money. And Cindy Sheehan is someone I can really look to for a voice, taking on Hillary as she has. I'm very upset with Hillary these days!

As they say... Go Figure???

[Cha]

16. How's John Edwards doin'

on that? I really like John and think he would be a perfect one who could find his voice on this.

[ChiciB1]

17. I Haven't Heard Any Statement Yet... But I Have Written Both Of

them about this. I think he WILL actually do it. I think he's smart enough to know he HAS to do it.

It's hardly a secret that he's gonna be in the race. I've been a real Edwards Booster, but if I have ONE thing that bothers me about him, this would be the issue.

You've obviously seen my previous posts about him. I have to say I haven't overlooked this issue. And I concede Edwards is being hurt by his vote.

I just posted for the 4th or maybe 5th time at the John Edwards for President thread. I've never ruled Clark out, but haven't embraced him either. Can't put my finger on it. I think it has something to do with the fact that I was raised in a military family and never really was happy about it! My father was fantastic, not your regular "gung-ho" First Sgt. type, but there were so many others that were. And by being an Army brat I saw stark contrasts between the military and civilian lifestyles.

[Cha]

18. Actually, I didn't remember

any of the previous posts of yours about John Edwards..I just saw your avatar and thought you would know about him.

Both he and Elizabeth are intelligent people of conscience who would be a tremendous asset for this country, especially if John came around on this very important issue ..the War On Iraq.

I saw him on Jon Stewart's too and thought, "Wow!"

[ChiciB1]

19. I Get Emails About What They're Doing All The Time.

We could do a LOT worse. Personally, I call myself very Liberal and it would seem that I would choose a more Liberal person, but he has a lot to offer.

I did see him in person and was extremely impressed. He has a quiet persuasiveness that has drawn me to him. And Elizabeth is one classy lady and terribly intelligent. I watched her during the campaign and was particularly struck by one town hall meeting I watched on C-Span. She Wowed me, and EVERYONE in the hall!

I was pleasantly surprised that she responded to a couple of posts I had here at DU! I had to write and ask if it was really her! She said it was. I had been talking about seeing Edwards in person and she said that she wished I could have been at one of his Town Hall meetings. I wish that too!

I think he believes what he says, and I like the fact that he actually grew up like one of us.

However, I really miss Paul Wellstone and love Bernie Sanders. But they aren't choices and that's just too bad. Wellstone died on my birthday, October 25th, that was a DOWN day! Anniversary coming up in a few days! We'll have to remember him on that day.

[Cha]

20. I was definetly crying on your

birthday that year!

I saw Elizabeth in one of those town meetings and was extremely impressed!

Here's to seeing more of them~ :toast:

[ChiciB1]

23. You Bet!

Getting late...

Another day to talk... like the 25th!

[DemoTex]

15. When I left for Viet Nam, my dad took out a $10-K life policy on me.

I was pissed then. I felt like it was a blood-wager (which it was). But he continues to pay the premiums to this day, and it is worth a chunk of change.

[Beausoir]

21. I saw that and thought the exact same thing.

What a horrible loss.

[AwakeAtLast]

24. That money is a mere pittance

and doesnt' keep you very warm at night. It also doesn't hug your crying child when she calls out for Daddy.

You all know my answer, too.