I am so sorry.
My hubby served in Desert Shield and we have lost three of our best buddies. No one cared:(
We celebrate some dipshit like M.J. and forget about our true hero’s. They come home, no Insurance, no $$ and nobody who cares. I am sorry!

I agree with all my heart, and I am so, so very sorry for your loss.

My prayers for your cousin. He is the true hero.

My condolences to you and the rest of his family. Also thank his parents for raising a man brave enough to sacrifice his life for his country and for us. If only our government could prove worthy of his life! Blessings.

I’ve received many many donations as a result of this post. People often say why do I need the money — I’m a pharmacist. And they are right, I make a good living. From now on, after my server, domain, and hosting costs are paid, the remainder of the donations (til recently, I didn’t get many donations – not enuf to cover costs yet) will go 50% to Brian’s memorial scholarship endowment (local HS student going to college with parent or sibling in service) and 50% to another program I support which is an educational program teaching governmental activities, leadership, citizenship, and the importance of the vote to young students.

So, those who have donated will be thanking his parents with me…:-)

You have my condolences. I agree, your cousin is a hero. You’re right, every soldier deserves a moment of silence.

What you’re failing to understand (and I mean this with all due respect, I have siblings, nephews, and cousins in the military so I have enormous respect for everyone in the military, what they do, and what they stand for) is that soldiers around the world are a dime a dozen. This doesn’t mean we are any less grateful for them and what they do. That’s why memorials are erected to them and movies are made out of their stories. Schools are named after them, and yellow ribbons are everywhere. There are federal holiday’s dedicated to them. They are loved. They are admired. We are all grateful for them.

As for Michael Jackson, who are you or anyone else to judge him? You oversimplify his existence by saying “He sold records, made music, and made people happy”. He went above and beyond that. He was a talented performer who was also a philanthropist. He touched the entire world with his music. He made a difference.

I meant to state that he did pave the way to a lot of the AIDS public awareness we have now. As far as oversimplification, I can’t help it. I wasn’t trying to write a biography. We have to sum up.

I quote “He was an accused child molester. While never convicted, he did settle CIVIL cases out of court (which is all but admitting guilt when it comes to child molestation, am I right?” No you are not right. What parent in their right mind would settle out of court if their child was molested??? Not I nor any of the other parents I know and we’ve discussed this at length. **No amount of money would buy my silence if someone molested my son…** NONE. Not in the millions, not in the billions.

Well, there are about 5 parents that sold silence. Let’s remind our non-legally versed readers that parents may drop civil CASES all they want, charges filed by a district attorney must be carried through to end as the DA sees fit. Parents don’t get much of a call. They might have some pressure or say but not a lot.

If you still want to do it, I ask you this — Was OJ Simpson guilty? He lost the civil suit, but was declared innocent in the trial. The state of CA says innocent on the docket, but ask America at large…

Once again…I am truly sorry for your loss.

My heart goes out to you and your family…my brother is over there on his 2nd tour…and I’ve spent many a day observing my own moments of silence for our brothers, sisters, and friends that give their lives with little to no recognition. Forgive me for caring about whether or not your medicaid is $3 instead of free, I’m too busy wondering if the government is going to send my friends and family to their deaths…not whether they pay for your prescriptions.

You stand up and shout..I’ll be right there with you

God Bless you and your family for this loss. I am dating a man who is now 48 and disabled from this war. I have met many of the brave soldiers who have gone over there to fight for the freedoms we all are honored to share. Some have been lost, some come back with twisted, unrepairable bodies and minds. It breaks my heart. Yes, Brian is a Hero and men like him should be revered and their acts of courage and bravery should be exalted and shouted from every media broadcast we have so people remember them instead of having to hear about the self-indulgent, pathetic so called artist Michael Jackson. I just don’t understand the mentality of these people. It flat out boggles my mind. What happened to the common sense and decency in our society? (PS I voted for Obama, no right wing fanatic here). Just good old fashioned values. May you find some peace in your loss knowing that there are many like-minded people on you r side.

I’m truly sorry for your loss. Your cousin was a hero.

Warm hugs to you and your family from two people who respect you and care about you… AZTECH + QUILT LADY

I have been in the fight against AIDS since Retrovir was introduced (hence the name QUILT LADY) – you responded about Michael Jackson to cupcakechica:
“I meant to state that he did pave the way to a lot of the AIDS public awareness we have now”
WTF has MJ done for AIDS public awareness? I have NEVER HEARD A THING about his promoting GETTING TESTED, NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS or PRACTICING SAFE SEX. Your post however, moved me as much as Catherine O’Sullivan’s Opinion Column last week, and I am FWDing your column to her. http://www.tucsonweekly.com

I am sorry. I really thought he did something. I thought he was one of the first entertainers to point out the aids epidemic in africa and begin giving charitable donations — the way it was stated in the news article I read was that he, “[sic] changed the way entertainers and performers give their money away. He started them on the road of finding a charity they have a passion for and giving lots of money to it rather than hoarding their money….” or something like that.

Was that way off base? It was an article that told about hte “good things MJ has done” — trying to unvillainize him.

I’ll raise a glass with you in memory of your nephew. He was and is a hero.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Your cousin was indeed a hero.

My condolences to you and his family.. My husband serves in the Army..He was deployed for 15 months to Iraq and never did a day pass that I didn’t worry about him. I dreaded hearing the doorbell ring when I was expecting someone. People say that yes they knew when they signed their name on that dotted line that they would be deploying one day or another and that they run the risk of losing their lives. However, those are the same people that sit back and could care less about what happens to the people in this country. Every man or woman serving in the Military knows what their chances are but they still do it because it they want to fight to defend their country and the people living in it. These people do deserve more than what they get but they still do their jobs. The same day MJ died there were 5 deaths of military members in Iraq and hardly anyone knew about them because all the news coverage of MJ’s death. Apparently ONE Superstar is more important than 5 soldiers that died defending their country. That is what our country has come to. Yes I feel your pain and can completely see where you are coming from on this issue. It is really sad that our men and women go unnoticed when they are doing so much for us.

sorry for your loss. we join you in mourning. i consider this young mans loss of life far more important than most of what is reported on in the media. i will observe several moments of silence for this mans memory. the peace of his family, and his place in eternity. I will be joined by a bunch of ol vets.

Be Blessed
Brother Frankie
A Biker for Christ

TAesP, I am sorry for your loss. Your cousin was truly a hero. There are so few men and women that are willing to work for what they want these days. My thoughts go out to you and your family. Please take care.

Yep. You said it, TAestP.

From one veteran to another.

Rest Easy, Brian. Thank you for your courage, strength, and selflessness.

my heart goes out to you and your cousin’s family. i thank GOD every day for soldiers who sacrifice their time and sometimes lives to protect our country’s freedom.

I’ve never supported the war, but that makes no difference in the sacrifice brave men like your cousin made, and I am so sorry for your loss. It’s disgusting and offensive how much attention and homage is paid to Michael Jackson when he couldn’t hope to be half the man your cousin amounted to, not to mention the deathtrap of an economy that forced your cousin into military service rather than school- and congress has the audacity to acknowledge a worthless piece of society instead? Sorry, I meant to keep this brief. Just know all our hearts go out to you and yours.

My condolances for your loss, I pray often for our troops. There is nothing good about or in this war. Sorry for your hurt TAestP.

Yes, you are absolutely right. Do not be quiet!! I myself was wondering why a celebrity was so worthy of so much news and our troops dying on a daily basis isn’t worth a ten minute shout out on the news.

very sorry about your cousin>you are right michael Jacksons death means nothing in the real world>The real heros are the ones fighting for our freedom

I am beyond words while thinking about the devastation of your loss. I am so very sorry. That is so tragic, so very sad. I agree with you 100%. Your cousin is the one that deserves the attention, the honor. It is your cousin and those like him that we should be hearing about in the media. Instead, all we hear about is Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was not a hero, your cousin truly is a hero and will be forever. You shouldn’t be silent. You and your family and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Take care.

You said it very well. I’m sick of this celebrity-obsessed BS while ignoring REAL heroes: your cousin. The overworked/underpaid school teachers. The healthcare workers in many fields who fight to save lives every damn day.

I’m sorry about your loss.

I am so sorry for your loss. It is heroes like your cousin and all the other service men and women in the armed forces that deserve the kind of respect and admiration that has been heaped on Michael Jackson.
They are the true heroes in this world, and deserve far better treatment than they get. Veterans come home to the UK to get booed by fundamentalists and the government refuses to do anything about it.
Once again I am sorry for your loss

I am sorry to hear of this young man’s death in the service of others. It is a sadness his family bears. It wasn’t the easy thing to do for him to enlist, and train, and serve day after day.

I cannot comment on a comparison to the extensive media coverage of Michael Jackson, as I continue to feel sad about the purchase price for involvement in a life evaluated by the wind of public favor.

I remember when my sister died, the anguish when thinking of everyone ‘involved’ in her death, even as casual ‘observers’, made me feel angry and defeated that her death to them seemed nothing of account, but immeasurably and immensely meaningful to her family and those who knew and loved her.

I am sorry.

I’m sorry for your loss. Everytime I see another report of another American killed in these senseless wars or think about all the injured that never get reported, I curse Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld. They have a lot of answer for.

You’re fucking right, TAP! I’m sick and tired of seeing a dead child molester getting more respect and attention than heroes like Brian. I’ve heard some people say that on the day MJ died it was “the worst day of my life”.

Telling these same people that a young man who wasn’t old enough to buy alcohol died a horrific death for America would likely garner a response of “Oh. How sad”.

My friends, what’s really sad is that most Americans would hold MJ in higher honor than Brian. Even if you don’t agree with the war, you should still respect the men and women who would protect that which they love with their lives.

Here’s to you, Brian. I hope you find well the clearing at the end of the path, and may it do ya fine.

My cousin (who has been my best friend since birth) is coming back from that god forsaken country next month. I wish yours was as well. Somehow “I’m sorry for your loss” seems a empty thing to say in such times.

It is upsetting how Americans can easily forget the men and women fighting for this country over some retired pop star. These men and women leave their homes and their families behind to fight for our right to freedom. I do not support this war, but I support our troops. They are our heros. They are the ones who die so that maybe tomorrow will bring a better world. Your cousin is indeed a hero and a very admirable man. I believe that though he is gone, he made it possible to bring a brighter future to our children.

War is evil no matter who perpetrates it.My condolences to all the fallen on all battlefields everywhere.

war is not evil. (so revolutionary war was evil?)

sometimes it a necessity.

Powerful and true, thank you for saying it out loud. Too bad this won’t be heard on CNN or read in NYT :(.

BTW, any war is evil, even a revolutionary one. Ever heard the expression “revolution eats her children”?