For those of you who are not familiar with IGTNT, it is an acronym for I Got The News Today. It is in reference to loved ones who almost daily receive the news that their family member has become a casulty of war.
This is a Gold Star Mother Monument located at Veterans Park in Kent, New York. It is a wonderful visual for the grief and sorrow that buckles the knees of a family member when receiving such horrific news.
Each time an American service member is killed in action one of the IGTNT diarists researches that service member's life and writes a heartfelt tribute to him or her. Sometimes there are as many as six or seven deaths per diary.
Once the diary is published members of this fine community come by and pay their respects to the fallen. It is a memorial service of sorts and the diaries are found by the family members when, in their internet search for any information about their loved one, they come across a link to it.
Please continue reading below the fold.
This statement appears at the end of body of each diary:
PLEASE remember that these comments may be read by friends and family who are overcome with raw grief. It is our custom here to leave politics aside as we offer our remembrance tributes with respect and compassion.
It is a simple request. It is not too much to request especially when there are so many diaries in which political discussions regarding the war are available and each user here is welcome to publish a diary every day on any subject of their choosing. Everyone on this site has an opportunity daily to voice their opinion about these wars.
Those who refuse to honor this request should be banned in my opinion. No exceptions. Ever. But then I'm hard line. My husband served this country for 20 years in the US Navy. He enlisted at the end of the Vietnam war, but he never served in Vietnam. He did however contract asbestosis from his exposure during his active duty days. I have watched him die slowly every day for the last 8 years. I am his full time caregiver. My father and his 7 brothers all served in WWII/Korea and all came home safely. My mother's 4 brothers served in WWII where one brother was shot down and declared Killed In Action. Years later we learned he'd survived the crash and was taken Prisoner of War and at a later date he was beheaded. I have creds and I can say this again: Those who refuse to honor this request should be banned...No exceptions...Ever. There are regulars to the IGTNT diaries who have lost sons/daughters to the war or during active duty service in a non combat zone. There are many regulars to the IGTNT diaries who have children/spouses in a war zone.
Last night a beautiful IGTNT diary was written and posted by TrueBlueMajority. Sadly not one, but two have chosen to violate the simple request. On this day, Fathers Day, there are some who will "visit" with their child at the cemetery. My heart breaks for them - any parent can imagine the horror of losing a child. I am outraged at the insensitivity shown by those who refuse to honor this simple request.
There are no words to express the gratitude and admiration I have for the IGTNT diarists:
The series was begun by idunno and is maintained by
Sandy on Signal
monkeybiz
noweasels
blue jersey mom
Chacounne
twilight falling
joyful
roses
SisTwo
SpamNunn
a girl in MI
JeNoCo
Mediaprof,
TrueBlueMajority
JanosNation
Proud Mom and Grandma
Ministry of Truth
WideAwakeinKentucky
CalNM
I also greatly appreciate and respect the "regulars" at IGTNT - bless them all.
Thank you for reading my rant.
UPDATE: I must admit that once my anger cooled I realized that instant banning may be too harsh, but there is no question that repeat offenders and those who continue to remain and argue in an IGTNT diary once they've been informed of the "simple request" should be banned. And it warrents noting for those who are unfamiliar with these diaries, the IGTNT "regulars" are quite adept at h/r'ing these comments so that the ensuing thread will be hidden from family members. Thank you all for the support and insightful discussion. Perhaps we can find the perfect solution to this persistent problem in this diary today.
UPDATE 2: Just to clarify, several have commented that hide rating the offensive comments hides them from the view of the families of the fallen. This is true and we who support the series do a fine job at that, but there are many kossacks who have family members serving in the war zone and I know of one who lost his son while on active duty, but not in a war zone. The comments are not hidden to these kossacks and they are extremely painful for them to view.