Re: Funeral for Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Pickard in Californ

[nik416]

Thank you for your service. I am honored to live in the USA . i lost a friend in IRAQ. i BELIVE IN ALL OF OUR ARMED FORCES. and anyone who says our guys are dying for nothing.. you can kiss my ass!!! They are fighting for our Country and for the greater good in the world. So everyone can have the kind of life we have. OH YEAH WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE RAISED THE FLAG? DO YOU EVEN OWN ONE?

[ukrainiaNManiak]

hey man, say what you have to say, you were there. Fuck these faggot civies and there bullshit opinions. Let them know whats going on over there, they wont carem they will just move on to something else and forget about it 15 minutes later. american civies are useless. cant wait for martial law so i can gun you all down.

[skitt9998]

true true i support the troops and the war im gonna enlist sometime next year can i still get in with a G.E.D.? [usmc]

[10XGAMES]

I agree, I solute you all.

[jackiebaron]

The boy died for absolutely nothing. Anyone who tries to elevate his death to something it isn't is a delusionalist. Dead for nothing...PERIOD!

[bl00drng2]

y in the fuck wouldnt u support the war????/?????????????????tell me right now y in the hell u wouldnt!!!they r fucking keeping us safe so ur dumbass can sit there and typ that message saying u dont give a shit!thats bs man go live some were else u dont diserve to live in U.S.A!

[Cinnamombunz]

do NOT conflate opposition to the war with failure to support our troops. That merely highlights your own failure to understand the difference, and if you don't understand the difference, then your whole premise is meaningless.

[graceinCalifornia]

We dont support the WAR!!!

But we do support all the troops!

[Griffy1989]

battlepaw i salute you i really do. what you guys do out there no videos or news reel could ever potray to the public. even though im from the UK, i support both US British Canadian and other coalition troops out in the middle east and indeed everywhere. you guys deserve respect and not to be treated the way some people treat armed forces personnel. again i salute you and your brothers and sisters in arms. from a very grateful person

[Fajuvo]

battlepaw should kick your haters ass!

Ty bro for fighting i liked the words!

[Battlepaw]

dunjak, if ur that stupid that you can't read I suggest you do so. I'm not supporting the war this post is about the soldiers fighting it.

[dunjak111]

Support your war?

As Truman signed the UN Charta, it became part of America´s constitution.(highest law)

In the charta there are rules, if a war is allowed, but none of these apply to Americas war. Its official illegal, but Bush doesnt care!

Now, who says that he doesnt care about the UN-charta should read it first and think about what a world he wants to live in. I guess this is why people hate the USA! They arent obeying their own laws, thats why they are not reliable.

[waywardone4]

dunjak111 what a dumbass. We have not declared war. This aggression is fought lawfully by powers vested by the C-n-C. America is not in a declared war.

You look stupid trying to push your UN Charta BS. Probably works in the company of your ignorant friends.

[Kables95]

hey man keep it too yourself. oppinions are oppinions. im in the service man its fine just show some respect...

[dunjak111]

You are right! Most of the world doesnt support your war!

I am glad there is one american soldier less!

Just shoot your nation to mars and the world is already a bit better!

Mission Incompetence!

[Forzanuccii]

This one is for BattlePaw, I would like to Thank You for your service to keep this country safe. From my neighborhood, there many people with different political point of view regarding our Gov policy, but i can tell you 1 thing, we all love our soldiers and support our troops!

God Bless you Guys !

[marinegirl7777]

Semper Fi

[saintsman2010]

great job!

i saw all of those comments and it was horrible

[sally1737]

Thank you for the great service you have done for our country and for the Afghani people. I have a son who is in Afghanistan and I believe that Marines serving there now and in the past have only had the purest motives and believe like you do that we are there to make a difference and we are making things better for the people. God bless you. Semper Fi.

[Gutkowski]

I support our troops and that you are doing your job .

[AnalMart]

Thanks for your service. I appreciate your perspective on this matter.

[Woods46]

I agree sir.. I'll be joining in march. i support the troops out there and i know they need an extra hand. And thank you for joining and fighting out there.

[BabyKitten199]

Semper Fi, Battlepaw, Semper Fi!!!

[vimalto]

i totally agree with you soldier. I am a hopeful british royal marine and I think that everything happens for a purpose and this war is happening to help people not for oil thts SOME peoples opinion of the war people who are INVOLVED know different. infinite respect to you and RIP Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Pickord.

[cadetusmc]

respect to you battlepaw!!!!

[mr1001nights]

Are you aware that you are fighting on behalf of a government that supported Saddam through his worst atrocities and subjected Iraq to sanctions in the 90s that killed over a million Iraqis? And I repeat: you (like a Soviet soldier invading Afghanistan in the 80s) might be a good man, but it is the +mission+ that is wrong. You should distinguish the institution from the individual-- especially hierarchical institutions.

[Battlepaw]

Of course I am aware of that, I'm also aware our government killed of countless Native Americans, bunny rabbits, and other assorted innocents, and most of the time intentionally.

[Battlepaw]

I'm not proud of that, or would I ever condone it. The mission in Iraq isn't up to me, all I do is fight it. If I ever see an American soldier shoot an innocent or commit any war crime while I'm in Iraq, its my duty as a soldier to report him or her, regardless of the situation. Then a jury is held that presents the evidence and it is decided in a civil manner rather than on the words of hecklers, and name callers.

[Battlepaw]

If you claim that my very presence or the fact that I participated in in Illegal war a crime than by all means me put me to trial, I'll be glad to fight, and when people wonder why I'm being put to trial instead of my leaders all it will do is prove my point. Your concept of slander against dead soldiers is self-defeating and hurtful towards families that have lost a loved one.

[Battlepaw]

I do have a question for you Mr1001Nights. "Do you think that there is no way to speak out against your government than to slander the soldiers who died fighting in the military that protects it?"

[mr1001nights]

Of course not. I speak out against all kinds of oppressors; from capitalists and government bureaucrats, to the soldiers and police who defend their interests and their immoral orders and laws. Also, the John Hopkins study showed the US was the biggest killer in Iraq, not the insurgents. Nevertheless everything happening in Iraq is as a result of the US invasion

[Battlepaw]

Would you speak out against us if we were putting your city back together after a hurricane, would you speak out against the men and women who defend you every day, often not caring for the government they fight for, but the flag they fight under and the people who live by it?

[mr1001nights]

It's not up to me to decide-- It's up to Iraqis. And poll after poll, survey after survey shows they want the US troops out. That's all that matters. the rest is self-deception-- including the rosy scenario you paint.

[Battlepaw]

Are you retarded or something? Or are you just too narrow-minded too see that is not my point? I'm not interested in some stupid polls, If polls elected our leaders we wouldn't be in the mess we are in. I'm interested in what I can change for the better.

[Battlepaw]

You should be to if your Anti-war or for peace at all, you should be interested in trying to bring the troops home as you said rather than trying to villinize your own military.

[Battlepaw]

You make it as if we have a choice whether to go to Iraq on not, we don't its not about who will help us drum out of the Military quickest or how much money you guys offer us to do it. Its about the soldiers who fight for your sorry ass, who try their best despite all the criticizem to not cause civilian caluslaties.

[Battlepaw]

Every time you say our presence there is causing the problems, you are saying: "I know you guys aren't killing innocent civilians other people are"

[Battlepaw]

Its obvious that you have no intention or any guts to stand up to anyone because you insult the soldiers rather than help try and bring them home like every other person who gives a damm.

[mr1001nights]

As an antiwar activist for 3 1/2 years, it's interesting to be called "anti-peace" by a soldier fighting in a murderous war of agression. As i said earlier, apart from your moral duty to heed the will of the victims (Iraqis, who clearly want an end to the occupation) you have a legal obligation to the US constitution.

[Battlepaw]

Ok, I'll explain my reasons from a broader perspective. The reason why we have a military is to protect the people. It might not be used to do so at all time from the viewpoints of all of the population but we need to stand by our watchdogs. If you are actually anti-war as you claim, don't try to destroy the hand that can protect you. If you are for peace you can't pick or choose, you must take the perspective of all involved in a situation.

[Battlepaw]

Causing grief to soldiers, and their families is not going to fix the problems in Iraq, but cause new ones here. The way to fix your problems is to stand behind us, because the military is not actually for or against the war if you want a personal option, we just wage it and try to do the best job we can. I don't speak for the whole of the Army or the millitary at all, but I've been in for a while and have experience in areas you do not have.

[Battlepaw]

As for the Iraqis, you may not understand this, but Iraq does have a constitution now. It is not our constitution but one of their own making using the values they hold dear, not only ours. They have a chance to succeed if only they wouldn't have to live in fear of their leaders being assassinated by the insurgency.

[Battlepaw]

Blaming the actions of the insurgency, with the goals they have and they ways they use to obtain them, on the US's involvement in Iraq is rather unfair to the troops because the choices the insurgents make is to use fear of death and slaying of whole families to achieve their ends. I can understand your viewpoint. But don't try to slander the actions of the military on on things that are being caused by the insurgents.

[Battlepaw]

I know that this discussion might be beyond some people, but I know that Mr2002Nights knows what I'm saying and understands this situation, and because of this has no excuse to ignore this point. The reason being is that him like myself are rhetorics of text.

[Battlepaw]

We understand that words are very powerful, and if misused can drive people to do terrible things. If I was to fire my rifle I would shoot one bullet at a target. One person would be affected at that moment by my bullet.

[Battlepaw]

Here on Youtube, anyone who can see my words will be affected. Words in this context, are more powerful than bullets. Words although cannot force someone to do something against his will, but it can convince someone to do the wrong thing

[Battlepaw]

Words can also be used to heal a human being. They can heal the void of grief caused by the loss of a loved one. They can promote peace and understanding of the situation that took them. You choose not to do this, you misuse your words to attack a brother in arms that fought with me in defense of his country on the same battlefield that I have been to and fought myself.

[Battlepaw]

I'm not against your ideas, but against your words that have the ability to go against peace and cause more hurt in this situation. If you want to attack a person's family in that way you are beneath my contempt, because you are not for peace or understanding at all.

[mr1001nights]

You shouldn't find refuge in the fact the war-mongering US elite, by virtue of its power, can violate morality and law with impunity. It's unfortunate that like many other "brave" soldiers, you are AFRAID to do the right thing. I suggest you contact IVAW. You owe it to your dead comrade and to Iraqis.

[Battlepaw]

I'm not AFRAID, to take that kind of action, I have other fears that you must understand in this. Is that my comrades didn't die for our power. They died for our people, we are made up of more than just leaders, we have a population that can be affected by internal strife just as easily as the one in Iraq.

[Battlepaw]

If you can't see this its because you are being blinded by your focused rage on the fact that civilians in Iraq are being killed. Just Imagine what a civil war here could cause. If that is what can happen in a country smaller than Texas think of what could happen in the US.

[Battlepaw]

The RIGHT thing in any situation that a soldier who fights for his country to make is for that of the people. If I was told to shoot unarmed Iraqi civillans I would not. I would refuse that order. But every time I have been shot at it has been by armed resistance. If I do not want to be killed I must shoot back. I hope you never have to face that kind of choice. War is meant to be fought by the soldiers, not among the civilians or by the civilians.

[Battlepaw]

The reasons I say this is because it is the words spoken by 'Anti-War' activists like yourself that are causing this. In fact the way you attack the soldiers of a nation that has the ability to speak out against the government that sends them tells me that you are not for the people, you are not for 'Anti-War' If you were you would be attacking the leaders and not the protectors.

[Battlepaw]

What you do is separate from protest, slander without individual proof is what you preach you are trying to fit you square shaped ideas into a star shaped hole. It won't work. What you talk is mostly theory, I explain my ideas through realistic context.

[Battlepaw]

By telling you this viewpoint I'm not holding myself above others, In fact all the UCMJ does is hold me to an additional set of rules, that often have more strict consequences than any civilian counterparts. It insures discipline and order and expects a higher standard than that of civilian authority. This code ensures that we have no murder's as you claim but hold them duly responsible for their actions.

[Battlepaw]

Interpretations of law are also important as our interpretations of facts and situations as human beings, and the relevance is often different than the reality of a given situation. If you punished every soldier that fought a war of aggression as specified by Justice Jackson in the Nuremberg Trials it wouldn't be realistic. It wouldn't be relevant not all of them were guilty of war crimes themselves.

[Battlepaw]

As such, it takes more than just someone's words of condemnation to convict. If that were so, think of how many would have unfairly died without judge or jury to convict them.

[mr1001nights]

Your allegiance is to the US constitution. Any treaty the US is party to is "the supreme law of the land"

The war is illegal and therefore unconstitutional. I suggest you look at Ehren Watada's case and the arguments his lawyers put forth. If you refuse you'd get TREMENDOUS support from the antiwar movement, including financial aid.

[Battlepaw]

You miss my point entirely though. To have any justification in calling these fallen soldiers and myself war criminals and it to be simply anything other than an empty accusations we must face a judge and be convicted. You will never get anywhere by attacking the families of individual soldiers, and they do not deserve this treatment.

[Battlepaw]

If you say I'm commiting a crime by not protesting, know that if I refuse to go to Iraq or go AWOL I will be cort-marshaled. I can go to prison. I will be committing a crime. Its not my place to challenge this because I'm a professional and I must stand by the law that guilds my service.

[mr2002nights]

If I were you, I'd refuse to go back to Iraq. You know you are not welcome there, no matter how much you want to rationalize it to yourself. You might be a good man, but you are part of an illegal mission that's killed 100s of 1000s and devastated a country

[Battlepaw]

I've spent my life in pursuit of understanding. One of the hardest decisions I ever made was to join the Army. I knew that if I joined what I would be facing. I knew I would deploy. I knew that I might have to kill another person, someone who like myself has hopes and dreams, and family. But there are things I knew I could learn. About life, what is sacred and good. You can't appricate life completely unless you fight to protect it. Unless you know what you are actually fighting for.

[Battlepaw]

Our soldiers know what is at stake. We know that the enemy has a human face and we do everything in our power to try to make sure that we don't kill needlessly.

[Battlepaw]

And as for saying that I should refuse to go to Iraq, that is not protest that is against everything I swore when I joined, I swore to obey the officers appointed over me, that includes bush because he is the commander in chief, and a little thing called the UCMJ. I can't try to discredit by active protest any of my orders or try to bring shame or disrespect to my chain of command.

[Battlepaw]

I do not have the same privlages you do. I fight to protect things that I do not have in the Army, you will never understand this because you are a civilian. If you want to talk to us and ask us about our life in the army before you try to criticize us and say we should refuse to do something, that is against our own honor.

[mr2002nights]

Principle I of the Nuremberg Tribunal (1950) states: "Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment." Principle IV adds: "The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him."

[darkflower2]

Well said. And, as usual, with more grace, humility, and integrity than your detractors employ when saying what they say.

For all those who will be forever young, and their families, we honor you.

[xripxjoshxpickardx]

Note from my mother:

"God bless you and your family, I'm glad you have the support of your family, I know there are many young men and women in the military who do not have family and friends supporting them. Let them know there are many here at home who keep them in their prayers. God bless America!"

Thank you for posting this. Let us know if we can support you in any way. If you are deployed again we would like to send you care packages and letters, if you agree.

Thank you again.