As I read this I feel a pang of sorrow, not for Lt. Daily for this valiant young man lived a life albeit shorter than nature and god intended. But for Christopher Hitchen’s. As Christopher had never met Mark Daily, so neither have I met Christopher, yet never the less I feel his pain.

To have published words that move the human soul to actions with inescapable consequences is indeed a heavy burden to bear especially when the reality of those inescapable consequences are brought so poignantly home. The question here which must surly haunt Christopher’s thoughts and dreams is, have I been as responsible with my words as I could have been.

I know that Christopher Hitchen’s will never read these words that I write, nor shall they hold such preeminence as those Irish poet’s and authors he quotes. But I dare, yes I dare suggest to Christopher, that were his ideas of so little value, had they been so far off the mark, then a man of such character as Mark Daily has by his actions proven himself to be would never have considered them worthy of considering let alone following.

Let not your heart be troubled Christopher, for I though I be nobody of any repute, do tell you. There are ideas and ideologies and virtues in this world for which the sacrifices given in their name are indeed worthy of those sacrifices.

Lt. Mark Daily did indeed prove that he believed this very self same thing when he wrote to his dearest wife,

One thing I have learned about myself since I’ve been out here is that everything I professed to you about what I want for the world and what I am willing to do to achieve it was true. …

My desire to “save the world” is really just an extension of trying to make a world fit for you.

His life was not a life thrown away for ideas unworthy of his sacrifice. He was a gallant and heroic figure of a man who understood the risks he took and the reason that he undertook them. Yes, Christopher, we all grieve with his family for their loss. And likewise we grieve for you, for it is a truly noble human being who in moments like this search their soul asking Am I responsible for this tragic event.

In this I answer you, no your’s is not the responsibility, save that you through your words have brought out the finest that their is in any human being, the selfless dedication required to place thoughts of ones own safety and comfort aside to advance the greater good for those unable to make such advances for themselves.

I know that you are not a man of religion nor will any exposition of religion bring you comfort of any kind, yet none the less I leave you with the words of Jesus Christ, no greater love hath an man than he lay down his life for another.

Lt. Mark Daily has shown the truth of that statement whether you believe in a god or not. For he, in a deliberate act of selfless dedication to ensure that the world he and his family lived in would be a better place than that which he found it. You Christopher bear if any responsibility at all, that of encouraging a young man to leave this world a better place than he found it.

I say to you, feel the sorrow of one who paid the ultimate price, but let not that sorrow sway you from the conviction that you have published from which this noble soul drew strength be diminished. Fall not back from that position which would inspire any person to make their world a better place than that which they found it to be.

doriangrey on October 5, 2007 at 8:42 PM