Cosidering the Life of Pat Tillman

I recently watched an interview of author Jon Krakauer on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart about his new book, Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey Of Pat Tillman, where Jon Stewart asked Krakauer if he thought Tillman was an iconoclast. Well, after reading the book myself I can answer in the affirmative. Not only an iconoclast, but after Krakauer's engrossing and comprehensive account I'd say iconic for a free thinking romantic like myself. I found Tillman complicated and sometimes conflicting, but someone guided by sound core principles and unafraid to live by them. It's refreshing to see character of this nature still extant in a society more prone to be pragmatic and equivocating.

Pat Tillman is the former NFL football star of the Arizona Cardinals who, after the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001 decided to forgo his NFL career to become an Army Ranger and help bring to justice those who perpetrated those heinous acts of terrorism against the United States. While serving in Afghanistan, Pat lost his life in a friendly fire incident that would subsequently be covered up for what would appear to be propaganda purposes and cause some controversy for the Bush Administration. As his biography unfolds, I was compelled to see Pat not as the poster child of American Patriotism as was put forth by the Bush Administration, but as a complex man motivated by strong core values and love of his family and friends. By the time Pat enlists in the Army you have a good understanding of the man that chose to leave behind the comfortable life of an NFL player and a wife he loved dearly to fight in a war that ostensibly was and is being fought to bring to justice those responsible for 9/11.

Krakauer uses the story Of Tillman's life and tragic death to illustrate the insidious nature of politics in war and alleges that the Bush White House and Pentagon misled the public and Tillman's family about his death in order to protect Bush's reelection bid in 2004. Also, many of the criticisms of the war in Afghanistan and the move to invade Iraq are seen through Pat's perspective, giving them a different context than what we normally see from politically motivated groups like Move-on.org and the like. As one who generally supported the war on terror I couldn't help but be compelled to moderate my understanding of things as Krakauer's book unfolded. Politicians have, do, and will use in the future any means to further their political agendas, regardless of party or level of power. Politicians seem to be, by nature, scumbags. It's a harsh reality. So, I'm not particularly surprised to find out politicians lie or obfuscate the truth for their political purposes. Still, after the hubris that seems to have been prevalent throughout the administration and reading the details of how Pat's death was covered up, for what ever reason, helps to put a new face on the how and why this war is being prosecuted.

But, the really compelling story for me was the biography of Pat. I came away with a sense that this was a guy I'd like to have known. Strong willed and one who acted on conviction, passionate about what and those he loved, he seemed to be the real deal. Compared to the politicians that grace our capital he is by far the more honorable. And the more genuine. And the more honest. In a war where many find fault and failure, you can look to Pat Tillman for greatness.