re: ISIS has beheaded American journalist James Foley

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I would rather die than ever say I wish I wasn't an American.

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Nothing I wouldn't say to live

There was a video after 9-11 showing I think Al-Queda taking a guy's head off with a dull reciprocating saw. It was in an industrial looking district somewhere over there. I can't recall who it was or exactly when.

I would say some pretty terrible things to not have my head chopped off

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I would rather die than ever say I wish I wasn't an American. Millions have died for me to be proud of the fact I am an American, why would I disgrace those before me with my final words?

I'm not trying to be billy bad arse either here and I'm not trying to hold James Foley at fault for what he said. I' was raised in a Marine household and am too proud to be an American to have those be my last words.

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Most of the people I know who share your sentiments are vets or members of military families. I doubt a journalist would share that sentiment in most cases.

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I'm not trying to be billy bad arse either here

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To a degree, you are. You're saying they couldn't break you.

And they're just words. They don't have meaning unless you assign them meaning.

Someone once asked the question if it's better to "die with honor or live with shame."


The answer's a simple one,
Life, and choosing life,
That honor might be reclaimed,
That long and fruitful life,
Might wash away the shame,
For the man who dies needless,
Who bears no sons, to pick,
Up sword and plow and babe,
What good serves him,
His precious honor?
What more can be wrought,
With life? For no dead men,
Ever built things great,
Or small, or claimed revenge.
No, the dying gasp for life,
And with life to win chance anew.
So the dead can keep their honor,
While the living weep, and do,
The things in death they left undone.


The answer's the same. Renounce your "Americanness" so you can stay alive. Then kill the enemy.

Words on your lips aren't the same as in your heart.

But the thing is these guys are outlaws and no matter what he was to say they were going to kill him. I'm sure they told him they would let him live if he says that, but I've also read enough stories from POWs to know that they always have a feeling that at any moment they are going to get killed. If I had that feeling that I was going to die at any moment, I would not let those be my last words.

Again I do not hold him at fault for what he said, everyone handles things differently, especially in a situation like that. Unfortunately even though that is probably not what he felt in his heart, that is what some people will remember.

Sick. fricking sick.

My feelings on this matter probably have a lot to do with the fact that my dad was a marine in desert storm and I spent my youth in a military family.

Yeah, whatever. They would break you.