Perhaps you’ve read the news accounts recently that chronicled the exploits of the Army Ranger and American hero, Pat Tillman, who was killed by “friendly fire” in Afghanistan in April 2004. The original reports stated that this former pro-football player, who turned down millions of dollars playing professional football to enroll in America’s armed forces following 9/11, had been killed in battle as a hero rushing to the aid of his fellow soldiers. In the three years following that original news report, the truth of what actually happened may be finally coming to light. It now seems that Tillman was actually shot and killed by other U.S. soldiers who were confused and disoriented in the wartime chaos of that encounter with the Taliban soldiers in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan.

This particularly saddening incident reminds us that it is critically important that we tell the truth and not “sugar-coat” the facts. The original account of Tillman’s death just wasn’t true. That story was made up in an attempt to put a positive spin on a disastrous and heartbreaking tragedy. (more…)