Posted on 12/25/2004 7:16:46 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
December 24, 2004 — This is a bittersweet holiday for a Chicago activist and his son. Father Michael Pfleger is against the war in Iraq. His adopted son recently joined the Army. Their story is similar to mayor Daley's, whose son, Patrick, enlisted earlier this year.
"Shock. We were standing out in front of the church one day. He said, 'I need to tell you something.' He said, 'I enlisted.' And I said, 'You what?'" said Father Michael Pfleger, St. Sabina Church
Father Pfleger is an anti-war activist who calls the invasion of Iraq immoral-- but he's also the loving father of a 30-year-old adopted son, Lamar. Lamar lost a good job with an airline company after 9-11 and decided this year to join the Army. He went through basic training in the fall and reports for active duty in less than month.
"I just opened my eyes and realized that this was something I want to do. I see the other troops and what they re doing and i want to be part of that," said Pvt. Lamar Pfleger U.S. Army.
"I'm very proud that he came through. Boot camp is one of the hardest in the country there. But at the same time it hurts. You know, it s scary," said Father Pfleger.
Father Pfleger had three adopted sons. One was killed in a gang crossfire in the St. Sabina neighborhood in 1998 when he was 17. That makes it even harder for the activist priest on the eve of Christmas to think about another son heading into harm's way in a war he finds so objectionable.
"Nothing in my life paralyzed me as much as the loss of my younger son. And I don't ever want to go through that again. I don t want to see anybody go through that. So I think we've got to pray for our troops. I think we've got to get them home. I think we have to make sure while they are there they have everything they need," said Pfleger.
Lamar Pfleger went through basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. That's where Mayor Daley's son is heading next week. Lamar says he'd like to share his experiences with Patrick. Meanwhile, Father Pfleger's been comparing notes with the mayor, who wanted to know all about boot camp. The activist priest admits he cried through the ceremony and Daley told the priest that his reaction to Patrick's
I wish all the best to this guys son.
A lot of people object to the war, and some of them I can certainly respect. Honest to goodness conscientious objectors I can respect, as long as they don't interfere with my right to defend myself and be defended.
I don't know anything about this guys dad, but I hope his son does his job well and comes home safe.
It's nice to see that Ron Reagan Jr. isn't the only apple that fell far from the tree.
Regardless of the Father's anti-war blahblah, I'm sure he's worried about his son. Just as any parent would be.
I hope he can find peace and acceptance of his son's courageous decision.
I've been watching some contemporary WWII documentaries and propaganda films.
It's depressing that we could have fallen so far in 60 years.
That's how I feel.
I don't understand those who oppose the actions needed to defend our country but I can respect those who are honest in their beliefs without rabidly attacking our President and our troops.
My son is heading to Ft. Benning next week also. I'm thankful for courageous young men willing to fight for our country and for freedom for those around the world.
I think you are a little too hard on Aragorn... have you read the LOTR books or just seen the movie?
It seems that while the America haters will never get it, their children do. God bless and protect their children, too.
Hold your ground, hold your ground. Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day. This day we fight! For all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!
--Aragorn
Bump to that. I compare this guy to my father, a WWII vet who said to me as I went to college, "You're signing up for ROTC, of course. When you go, you might as well go as an officer."
Yes, Viggo was a pretty wimpy Aragorn. at the time of LOTR Aragorn is about 45, so he should have been stronger and maybe a little harsher, like a young Rumsfeld...
That was suppose to be 'practical', not piratical :)
I really do believe it is part of being a guy. Much for the same reason boys like football, I think. It is violent, and fast and takes all of what you have. I think war does the same in a much more fast, violent way, and on occasion, will take everything from you.
There are many men who grow to love it in a twisted way. They love it so much, because it makes back here seem so meaningful. I heard someone once say somewhere regarding Vietnam, that he wished he could go back, just to remember how much he wanted to be here.
Hence, the occasional disillusionment, when you come back, and everything is so...normal and nothing has changed, yet everything has.
Over there, you may have been walking a street with five other bad looking guys, knives and guns and ammo strapped to you with everyone getting out of your way as you approached.
When you return to the world, people moan at you about taking their parking spot or how stressful their work is. You meet people who say "who the F... are you, and why should your opinion count? It must be difficult.
Aragorn a pacifist? You use a different dictionary than I do.
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