Take a look at her face and her smile. Megan McClung (Major, USMC), was killed last week in Al-Anbar province, Iraq.Tell me - do just societies send women and girls to foreign lands to fight and die?
Don't give me the argument that it was her right - I suppose in our culture it is her right - that in and of itself does not make this just.
Shame on us.
The world is a darker place - and we share a bit more guilt.
UPDATE - read this before you send me a nasty email
Megan wanted to serve her country and she did it very well. Making an argument that she shouldn't have been there because she was a woman is just insane. The more appropriate argument is why any of our troops are there at all. RIP Megan.
ReplyDeleteAny reader of this blog will have found sufficient, principled opposition to the war - but El Cid's point remains just as valid in my opinion as it remains "insane" in yours. What kind of man sends a woman to fight in his place? A coward. And the fact that an entire country does it wholesale speaks volumes about the country. Perhaps you buy into the "it's the 90's" mindset that women can grow beards and men can have babies, but there's a few of us left on this planet that have not.
ReplyDeleteI certainly mean no disrespect to her as an individual. It is just a sad state of affairs that she was there and that she died. It is just wrong and a sign of a civilization in decline.
ReplyDeleteFor sometime there will be a lump in my throat. Walking down the halls of our building won’t be the same. Running for that matter won’t be the same. I had the privilege to call Major Megan McClung a friend, running motivator and compassionate listener. She was an amazing person with talent, skill and a good heart. Would push you to pass her in any race and would turn around to keep you going. By chance, we were always arm and arm, stride and stride together while racing in Fallujah. I knew I was doing well if I could hear her steps behind me, or if she was right in front of me. Now I’ll have to image her there along side of me, pushing me like always, smiling like she did the best and being the leader that she was. Rest in peace my dear Major; my heart will have a void for sometime indeed. I pray for you and your kind soul, and pray for the strength of your family and all that you touched in life.
ReplyDeleteJ.M.H. USMC
No man sent her to fight in this war. She volunteered. I wouldn't presume to speak for her, but as a college classmate of hers, I suspect she would find your analysis of her situation quite irritating.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, as the fact that she had joined the service would put her at odds with the above commentary by default. However, this blogger can still hold his opinion that women have quite a different role to play in society than dying if foreign lands. You say no man sent her to fight, but his name is George W. Bush.
ReplyDeleteMegan,
ReplyDeleteI respect you greatly because of your insistence of getting you, your military combat camera and reporters out with the troops; you are more than a great Marine officer.
I talked with you just the day or days before this happened and I miss you every day. You are a good friend; I wish every day that it were me and not you.
I know you are in a better place and are amongst friends, this is the only thing that gives me comfort.
For you other's: Megan is neither your spokesman nor is she your Joan of arch. She will remain a great lady for all my life, nothing more and nothing less. Now it is our job to make sure these great people are not forgotten. The thing that saddens me is that it is just two to three months since this tragic day; Megan, CPT P and SPC are starting to fad. Please never let these great people and these other great Americans that have fallen, even fad from your thinking. I know that Megan and the others will never leave mine; they are with me for life.
Jeff
Maj. McClung, I am deeply sorrowed to hear of this. I just hope and pray that you are up in Heaven guarding the Pearly Gates when I get there. You are a good Marine. Honor. Courage. Commitment. You exemplified all the Corps Values every minute. God Bless. Semper Fi.
ReplyDelete~D USMC (DEP)