Remembering Fallen Soldiers

CTNGA Sgt. Felix Del Greco and the author taken by mother, Claire Del Greco

Today, April 9th, is the fifth anniversary that Connecticut National Guard Army Sgt. Felix Del Greco was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq. This photo was taken on New Year's Day 2004 before he shipped out for that tour of duty which he volunteered for, to serve his country and to help people live freely. This week, the 20 year ban on photographing the returning coffins of war dead was lifted by the current administration. When the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, the demand that this ban be lifted fell on deaf ears in the Pentagon and White House. From Democracy Now,

The media was permitted on Sunday to cover the arrival of a US soldier’s coffin at the Pentagon’s main mortuary in Delaware for the first time in eighteen years. President Barack Obama has relaxed a Pentagon ban on media coverage of returning US war dead, giving grieving families the choice of whether to allow cameras at the solemn arrival ceremony.

This has always been a clearly divisive debate, and Felix and I would probably be arguing about the pros and cons about this issue. I recall Sgt. Del Greco's family wishing for no media during the funeral, and the feelings of outrage I had when I saw the media vultures outside St. Joseph's Cathedral. However one feels about war and the military industry, citizens however need to remember the human cost and sacrifice of those that are involved.
There's so much that can and should be said about the situation. He and I argued the merits of going, but I always understood that he was volunteering to do what was right. I know this because we discussed it. But more than that, because I watched him grow up and knew the kind of person he was. More than that, the kind of leader he was. He was an amazing person and will forever be an inspiration to all he touched. And to me, all the more reason why WAR is wrong.

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PHH: Holy Superlative Week, Batman!

That's right folks: It's Holy Baskets! Week for at least two major religions: Men's College Basketball, and Women's College Basketball
(also, how come Passover and Easter happen at the same time every year? hm, go figure, what an amazing coincidence!)

We all the know payday that the Men's Championship didn't deliver to the UCONN men (sorry, am i rubbing salt in bloodied wounds of self-flagellation?) but at least the Women's team still has one last shot right? Seriously, I don't follow this rubbish so I don't know what's what. Basketball, that's the one with 10 players running around a court with some sort of soccer ball, relatively visable as they are surrounded by the giant logos of multibillion dollar companies? They do something with this ball? Then they walk on water? They sweat green and purple and neon yellow ooze that scientists at Gatorade collect and then sell to the masses as a curing solution for their fatigue.

Progressive Happy Hour: Holy Week edition
When: Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
Time: 9:30pm
Where: Red Rock Tavern
395 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT


For me, it is but a week where I am reminded by my Catholic relatives what a heathen I am for not supporting Notre Dame or Gonzaga during the season. For not following a sport founded by our northern brethern of Springfield (oh, we bastard offsprings, Htfd/Spgfd, always to be outshone by our classist overrated NY/BOS/NH/Amhearst!). It's a tough week, it is. No meat, fasting, praying for my eternally damned soul. Then I have to attend some bloke's dinner party for his mates and drinking gatorade and vanilla wafers before heading off to hang out and play a game of pickup basketball on Golgotha.

So, it's time to repent my sins at Progressive Happy Hour. REPENT! I say!

Join the heathens who need salvation. Come inbide in the blessed curly fries! Watch as one multiplies into many that will feed the collected hordes!
Listen to the chants of Burt Ward shouting Holy of Holies to Batman! Watch as we turn water into ale! Hooker Ale! Red Rock Ale! Wine even.

And join us next Tuesday night (April 14) for a free screening at 7pm at La Paloma Sabanera of the documentary HEAVY METAL IN BAGHDAD

The preceding message was brought to you by GatorAID: please help the Gators get out of Windsor and back to Florida. Remember: Baby Gators might seem like a fun gift for your kids, all cute and cuddly, but then grow up and eat your kids... Donate a child to Herod's GatorAID. www.herodsgatoraid.org for ways to donate your potential male messiah.

-Helder
Ministry of Morphine to the Masses

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Blacked out on sabbatical

Blacked Out Billboard by MiraHartford

Pic of the day: this blacked out billboard was one of the first sights that greeted me upon my return from New Orleans a few weeks ago and it felt appropriate for how I've been feeling, how I've been MIA, and about the general status of main stream media as something that really doesn't convey any information. The noticeable thing is that this is a tarp over the billboard; they had to apply it. What was the purpose? What aren't they trying to tell you on that billboard? Where have I been? Where is my mind?

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