“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what can you make people believe you have done.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle
Few American heroes rival the incredible story and the personal sacrifice of Pat Tillman.
Tillman was the NFL star who played for the Arizona Cardinals and sacrificed a multi-million dollar contract to volunteer for active duty and be willingly shipped off to Afghanistan at a time when that meant possibly not coming home alive. He would indeed pay that ultimate sacrifice. Following the terror attack of 9/11, Tillman was inspired to do something for his country above and beyond self-interest. Playing pro football just didn’t seem as meaningful in the wake of world events. So, Tillman joined the armed forces, not for any glory or publicity. He gave up a lucrative football career in his prime for a cause he perceived to be worthy.
Tillman had signed with the NFL’s Cardinals in 1998. He’d played defensive safety and broke the franchise record for tackles in 2000. He also competed in 26-mile marathons and in the Ironman triathlon and volunteered in youth groups and schools while pursuing a Master’s degree in history. He even married his high school sweetheart. He was the ideal American.
But that was all cut short by tragedy on April 24, 2004.
After his death, the pro-war Bush Administration implemented a massive publicity campaign to use Tillman’s death as a recruiting tool to promote the war as a cause so worthy that even a highly-paid NFL star believed it to be worth the sacrifice. How disgusting. What the Bush Administration and neo-cons failed to mention was that Tillman was killed at the hands of his fellow soldiers — yes, by friendly fire. This is no longer under dispute. He was killed by his own country. The pro-war neo-cons and Right-wing media flunkies desperately tried to till to cover it up. But, eventually, the truth leaked out (see The Tillman Story, a 2010 documentary).
While that needless tragedy sinks in, to this day two decades later Tillman’s memory is being violated, His story is being distorted on this Memorial Day, 18 years after his death. Many conservatives and Christians invoke Pat Tillman as the ideal American who gave his life for his country (see example below). And frankly, we progressives and atheists agree. Pat Tillman was the ideal American. Pat Tillman was a true patriot. Pat Tillman was also — an avowed atheist.
So, when you see memes and neo-cons and Trumpers invoking the memory and the ultimate sacrifice of PAT TILLMAN, let’s also remember who Pat Tillman really was and what he really believed.
Pat Tillman was a liberal. Pat Tillman was a devoted reader and lover of history. Pat Tillman was an atheist.
And we remember him today and honor his sacrifice.
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Note: Here’s an example of the disgraceful tactics employed by conservatives to distort history and facts and malign Tillman’s ultimate sacrifice:
