Right-Wing Militarists Beat Father of Marine

If "Gathering of Eagles" needs a new emblem, this one is currently available

At the recent anti-war protest in Washington D.C., a pro-war group known as "Gathering of Eagles" assaulted Carlos Arredondo, a father of a Marine killed in Iraq:

Carlos Arredondo, 47 year old father of two sons, arrived in the nation's capitol on Monday, 09/10/07 to share a memorial he has made to honor for his eldest son, Alex. Carlos has visited thirty of the United States with the traveling memorial to his son Alexander. Lcpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, USMC was killed on 08/25/04. He was 20 years and 20 days old. The memorial consists of a casket, poster- size photographs of Alex when he graduated from boot camp, before his second tour in Iraq, lying in state at his wake, and a photo of Alex with his younger brother Brian.

Saturday, September 15, 2007 consisted of first a rally, a march towards the capitol and then a die-in. Carlos pulled the memorial along the march route approaching the rotunda near the capitol building. Several of the marchers requested for him to speak about the memorial where a crowd gathered around him. After finishing, several people walked with Carlos as he pulled the memorial. Several pictures of Alex dressed in his blues were attached to the display.

As Carlos passed counter protesters, one man ripped a picture of Alex from the memorial. Carlos leaped on the man to retrieve the picture. It was at that point that approximately five others all began to attack Carlos by kicking him in the head, legs, stomach and back.

The Capitol police bicycle patrol then appeared to break up the fight. Several officers including a female officer were engaged in breaking up the fight and were able to stop any further injuries from occurring. Hannah Jones who was walking with Carlos was also assaulted.

A bystander named Ramesh witnessed the whole encounter and also retrieved the picture of Alex for Carlos. He was quite distressed at how he watched the men follow Carlos as he pulled the memorial, purposefully yelling epiphets and eventually taking Alex's photograph. Soon, an ambulance showed up as well as many concerned activists. The paramedics provided first aid to Carlos but he did not seek further medical attention. Carlos sustained bloody cuts on his shins. He also reported bruises all over his torso and head where he was kicked.

According to Rick Perlstein, who waded through this particular right-wing sewer, these thugs were trying to 'rescue' his son:

He [one of the perpetrators] clearly believes himself a hero: the fallen Marine, after all, was "being held hostage in company not of his own choosing." Well, yes, none of us get to choose our own parents. But these parents "immediately and obviously intended" to "disrespect his Corps," and had to be wailed upon. Their son would have only wanted it that way:

My teams broke up at the Capitol, mission accomplished, and I was walking alone back to the Mall when I saw the photo-image of a proud young Marine in dress blues being held hostage in company not of his own choosing and affixed to a coffin not his own.

The insult to his honor and disrespect to his Corps and cause by his captors was immediately obvious and intended. These same peddlers of provocation are paid to push their coffin-prop all over the country they revile. They subvert a common will and undermine the cause and country for which this hostage-Marine had sacrificed his very life.

The captive Marine was not among his own. He was surrounded and outnumbered by those who shamelessly exploit his image and memory, disgrace his uniform, his brothers in arms, and his willing sacrifice. He would never choose such company. He needed a rescue...

Like all authoritarians, this 'patriot' can't handle the idea that those who disagree with him--and let's not forget that he beat a man over a disagreable opinion--can and do use the same symbols: our flag is 'their' flag. Once that happens, the argument by authority doesn't work, and he's forced to confront the reality of his beliefs, rather than fall back on vague emotional symbolism.

The first line of defense is lying. Many of the commenters at their website are denying that the attack took place (false-here's a picture) or that Alex Arredondo ever served (also false). Why? Because they can't handle the reality. When you justify your beliefs based on authority, your beliefs are threatened, not by logic, but by an equal and countervailing authority. One can't have that, so one just beats the crap out of your opponent.

And what "cause" was this 'Eagle' protecting? The right to beat someone because they disagree with you? How does this 'Eagle' even know what Alex Arredondo thought?

But what is most disturbing is that this goon thinks that attacking Carlos Arredondo was a victory, not a defeat. Most mentally stable people might argue, or even shout, but, if they disagreed with Arredondo, they would view having to resort to violence as a failure. But not this 'Eagle': like all fascists, he thinks violence is purifying and glorious.

So when does the Senate censure these thugs? Because sticks and stones will break our bones, but names will never hurt us....

Note: some of the other links link to the website; I'm not giving those moronic thugs any links.