Soldier's family furious over name on T-shirt

[Terri]

KVOA

A Tucson family is outraged. They say no one asked permission to use their son's name for an anti-war T-shirt listing names of soldiers killed in Iraq.

The family of Army Specialist Thomas Byrd said they had no idea their son's name was listed on the shirt, until News 4 contacted them.

Dan Frazier, the man behind the controversial t-shirts lives and works in Flagstaff. The shirts list thousands of names of U.S. troops killed in Iraq. The shirts are sold on-line.

More (http://www.kvoa.com:80/Global/story.asp?S=6576168)

[Ohiowoman]

"If we couldn't use the names, for instance of holocaust victims in all kinds of memorials, it would be that much easier to say that the holocaust never happened," said Frazier.
He isn't using the names as a form of commemoration. He's using them to 1) show his anti-war sentiment and 2) make money.

Frazier told News 4 if he were independently wealthy he'd be happy to give the shirts away free of charge.
See #2, above. He doesn't care about the families or their feelings. He wants to make money.

The right thing to do would be to remove Thomas Byrd's name, as well as the name of anyone else whose family objects. I can't see him doing the right thing.

[DE644]

Sounds to me like it is time for a law suit. A nice big, fat one.

[Confused]

:dunno1: I agree with both respondants, they both have very good points. The only thing that gets some people's attention is if you hit their pocketbooks. Sounds like one of those. WIth people like that you can't reason with them... they have no conscience or morals so there is nothing other than depriving them of their ill-gotten gains that would even begin to penetrate their minds. Phew! I just can't imagine someone being that callous and non-feeling. Must have ice water in their veins.

[sherman]

Frazier says the new law violates his right to free speech. He says he will not stop selling the shirts and plans to come out with an updated version.Using a person's name for profit, without their consent, does NOT fall under the "Right to FREE speech. :noway:
I wouldn't be surprised if his "free" speech right, doesn't end up costing, as opposed to being free. News 4 talked to Dan Frazier, "Once you're dead, people can use your name pretty much however they please with only a few exceptions." And this is one of them!
( I wonder where he got his information from?
Even copyrighted songs don't cease to be protected by copyright laws when the composer passes away.)

Last week, Governor Janet Napolitano pushed through an emergency measure to make it illegal in Arizona to use the name or picture of a deceased soldier for commercial purposes without the family's permission. IMHO, She needs to be commended for this.

Terri, would having a petition commending her and/or their State Congress for taking such action, fall within the guidelines of the :gopusa: forum ?

[basssniper]

Hit them in the pocket book. They seem to understand that very well. Maybe next time they will think before putting their foot in their mouth.

[Whitetop]

Ole Gov. Janet must not be doing well in the polls so she has to act like she is compassionate.

[candles]

Just when we thought the liberial could stoop any lower they prove us wrong. :(

[Charie]

He says $1.00 from each sale goes toward an organization for families that have lost loved ones in the war.



Oh boy, I'll bet this goes to the families who are supporting the war like "You Don't Speak For Me, Cindy" and "These Colors Don't Run" or "Gold Star Mothers".

He saw a way to make a quick buck by taking advantage of brave men who fought and died so that slimebucket could make his wad selling their names to people who hate them and hate President Bush even more.

[LoveAmerica]

They shouldn't be. Let his name be remembered by T-shirts. So the guy makes a buck. Big deal. He wont' become a millionaire. If it were my son, I'd be honored and I'd send the guy money myself. PLEASE.............. ......... LET THE BOYS ALL BE REMEMBERED! Someone said it's time for a lawsuit. Must be a stupid little Democrat who drives a Pinto.

[kcsgarage]

Loves America but still hasn't got his high school diploma.
Why should these people be upset just because he's using names of dead solders to give aid and comfort to our enemies? Why, they should be honored that this guy is probable using this money to give donations to those Democrats that show their patriotism just a little bit different than a normal person.
I think he should print up a shirt with all the patriotic quotes that the Dems have made in the last 4 years. Wait, can't do that it would be blank. Unless you use the quotes and sell them in the middle east. You know Dick Dubin's Nazi quote. Harry Reids we've lost quote. How about a picture of Pelosi in Syria in a Burka.
How about if he prints up all the pictures of the fallen muslim heros of the left and makes a poster decrying their civil rights abuses. I think that would be a big seller on the left coast.
They could print playing cards with Osama as the Ace,ect,ect on down the line with all living and dead heroes of the left.
They could print the 9/11 heros of the left on base ball cards. Those would really be popular with the little liberal. Do them up like Pokemon cards with special holographic collector cards in each pack. Hey kids collect all 12 special holographic cards recieve your very own suicide belt with realistic sticks of dynamite. Start your collection today.
How about a credit card with your favorite suicide bomber. 2% cash back to the families of the fallen.
There are all kinds of ways to show your patriotism and make a little cash at the same time.

[azwhitewolf]

They shouldn't be. Let his name be remembered by T-shirts. So the guy makes a buck. Big deal.
It's a big deal to the families, obviously, since they've gone to quite a bit of trouble to protest it.

We all know that Cindy Sheehan has a message, but her son chose the military because he was patriotic. That's just as disingenous to portray Sheehan's kid as a victim when he proudly served.

I guess respecting a servicemember's decision to serve is just as terrible as a family's request not to have their son "honored" on an anti-war T-shirt.

I suppose LoveAmerica would also buy a "Matthew Shepherd has been burning in Hell for 1204 days" T-shirt from the Fred Phelps gang, because after all, we are "remembering a gay man who was murdered."

Oh wait! Maybe there IS there a context that we should consider before we just throw a name on a political shirt... like... weather or not it's respectful to the wishes of that person.

My two cents.

[RealDeal]

Quote:
News 4 talked to Dan Frazier, "Once you're dead, people can use your name pretty much however they please with only a few exceptions."
And this is one of them!
( I wonder where he got his information from?
Even copyrighted songs don't cease to be protected by copyright laws when the composer passes away.)



Not that I care about Courtney Love, but she just recently fought with Doc Marten over some ads in England using Kurt Cobain's pic... Love Kicks Cobain Shoe Ad to the Curb (http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/43930032)

Seems to me the family needs to make some noise (read: lawsuit). But not really sure if just using his name (in a list of fallen soldiers) is "illegal"... it is a matter of public record. Hmmm...