A Great Loss...

With no disrespect intended to the Jackson family, this sure does reveal the shallowness of our value system in this country. This puts things into perspective:

by MIKE aka Mr. Brutally Honest

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:

Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
Specialist Charles D. Parrish
Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
Captain Kafele H. Sims
Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan thismonth:

Sergeant Ricky D. Jones
Specialist Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas
Command Master Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey J. Garber
1st Sergeant John D. Blair
Sergeant Paul G. Smith
Staff Sergeant Joshua Melton
Sergeant 1st Class Kevin A. Dupont
Specialist Jonathan C. O'Neill
Chief Warrant Officer Ricky L. Richardson Jr.
Specialist Eduardo S. Silva
Lance Corporal Joshua R. Whittle
Major Rocco M. Barnes
Major Kevin M. Jenrette
Staff Sergeant John C. Beale
Specialist Jeffrey W. Jordan
Specialist Jarrett P. Griemel
Specialist Roberto A. Hernandez I
Sergeant Jasper K. Obakrairur
Staff Sergeant Jeffrey A. Hall
Private 1st Class Matthew D. Ogden
Private 1st Class Matthew W. Wilson

Let's remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting.