Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is a Marine, a United States Marine, who at this moment has been languishing in a dirty, dangerous, maximum security prison in Mexico for nearly three months. On March 31, Tahmooressi took a wrong turn in his pickup truck and accidentally crossed the Mexican border. In his vehicle he had three legal guns. And now, because of this honest mistake, he is facing unjust weapons-trafficking charges and 21 years behind bars.
And the United States of America, the most powerful country in the world, the country to the immediate north of Mexico, the country that treats Mexican trespassers with respect and turns a blind eye to criminal offenses committed while here illegally, the country that gives Mexico more than $300 million in aid every year, can’t get this Marine back home.
But, what if it was Kim and Kanye? Would they still be in that prison? Not a chance in hell. Why? Because they are famous. And fame matters in this country, no matter the reason that fame exists.
I actually don’t know anything about these two other than Kanye West is a rapper of some note and "South Park" made fun of him in an episode several years ago (I laughed). And Kim is famous because she had sex. Well, not just for having sex, as most adults have sex, but because everyone saw her having sex and I guess she’s good at it.
Full disclosure: I didn’t see the sex, but what I know is this: Apparently several years ago, Kim, who is very proud of both her nakedness and her prowess at carnal escapades, was having sex while a video camera was rolling. And this video, lo and behold, was somehow mysteriously released making both Kim famous and her parents so very proud. The result was a TV show literally about nothing but whiney, self-involved, narcissists and conversations about being famous.
Welcome to the celebrated and revered in America 2014. Contribute some songs, show off a naked derrière and voilà: You’re royalty!
Now back to this nobody, this insignificant Marine, Sgt. Tahmooressi.
Why should we care about this guy? He doesn’t write songs, sing rap or get naked for money. As far as I know, he doesn’t get free passes to the hottest concerts or walk the red carpet at Hollywood movie premiers. He doesn’t have mindless drones begging for his autograph, he doesn’t own a Ferrari, he hasn’t been on “Oprah” and I don’t even think he has his own TV show that features him, his siblings and his parents getting Botox injections, face lifts and liposuction.
Nope, the only thing this nobody has done is risk his life during combat in order to save the lives of others. Combat veteran friends of Sgt. Tahmooressi have been telling all willing to listen that had it not been for the sergeant’s courageousness and heroism during his two tours in Afghanistan, there would be many more Marines dead this Memorial Day.
The sergeant’s friends and beneficiaries of his bravery describe Tahmooressi as a “Marine’s Marine.” Apparently, very level-headed under fire, the sergeant was the epitome of bravery and a true leader. In one case, Tahmooressi saved the life of a Marine who lost both legs in an explosion by quickly applying tourniquets. In another case, he saved several Marines who were pinned down in a canal by enemy fire, selflessly putting his own life at risk in order to protect his friends.
But pishposh, what is that compared to the cultural contributions of Kim and Kanye: nudity, obscene misogynistic song lyrics, open and notorious sexual gyrations and debates about whether Kim’s ample bum has been augmented surgically.
I was never in the military; never been a Marine. But I admire none more than those who serve in defense of our country.
My question is this: Where is the collective outrage from us as citizens about this hero with PTSD rotting in a Mexican prison? Where’s the boycott? Where is the collective agreement from U.S. citizens that they won’t visit that country while holding our brother prisoner? Where are the Hollywoodians who would be throwing themselves at the doors of this prison if K & K were being held there? And where are our country’s leaders? Where are their demands and outrage? Where are the ultimatums?
I’m not a politician, probably for good reason. But honestly, if I were in a position of national authority, I’d be on the phone with Mexico’s powers-that-be. And I’d undiplomatically threaten the hell out of whoever answered whatever color phone has been designated for emergency contact with our southern neighbors. By the end of that very short phone call somebody down there would be doing one of two things: opening the door of that cell or planning how to run the country with no help whatsoever from the United States of America.
I’ll end with this: The Marines and the military as a whole have a creed—Marines don’t leave another Marine behind.
If Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi was being held behind the lines of an enemy instead of our supposed friends, you couldn’t stop the Marines from going to get him. If somebody doesn’t step up quickly, I imagine they may do just that!
