Proof We’re no Longer Shielded from the Human Cost of War
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A post by "Blake the Megalomaniac" To see more posts click here |
In February I wrote about how Obama asked Sec. of Defense Robert Gates to reconsider the USA’s policy on disallowing media coverage for our war fallen as they come home to Dover, DE. Well, (I get chills just writing this and they’re not chills of excitement) lastnight while we were all presumably sleeping safe in our beds while rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do the US and her interests harm, President Barack Hussein Obama was at Dover Airforce base honoring 18 heroes who were killed this week in Afghanistan. The media witnessed the transfer of one soldier, Sergeant Dale R. Griffin of Indiana. The media needs the permission of the family cover a fallen soldier.
By no means is the fact that I’m shedding light on this issue meant to be a political push to Obama or a slight to Bush. What it is meant to be though is sobering reminders of a war that unless you’re dialed into the news, the papers, or the blogs, you don’t have any frame of reference to.
In February I wrote: the current wars are ones in which unlike WWI or WWII the average American isn’t asked to sacrafice or chip in besides taxes, thus creating an American culture where we can name all 12 contestants on American idol but don’t know the number of people that perished in 9/11 (off the top of my head I believe it’s 3,025) let alone any of their names.
I agree with the lift of the media blackout at Dover. I don’t have a soldier in the fight persay but I am an American and proud of it. These colors do not run. I can’t remember who said that whether it was a president or a parody of a president on SNL but just as these color don’t run from a fight they also cannot run from the casualties. Like many of your parents, my father is a proud war veteran. Like many of you, I’m a defense contractor. It seems, at least around here, the new enlistement approach for 20-somethings is to become a defense contractor that’s how we do our part — right or wrong.
I digress. The bottom line is I care about all our soldiers abroad; that’s why I do what I do and when they perish people need to know, need to honor them, need to recognize that they paid the ultimate sacrifice.
If you don’t agree please explain yourself in the comments section?
As Barack Obama makes his way with the plan going forward in Afghanistan it’s nice to see him take everything in. Especially, by getting a real glimpse into the biproducts of his decisions as it pertains to our military. However, Mr. President don’t dither.
udothedishes then repeat . . .
[Old Link: Seeing a Loved One in Coffin]
[AP Article: Obama Honors Fallen Soldiers at Dover]
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I never really understood why there is a media blackout in the first place. Its not like they are taking pictures of an open casket. We all hate funerals, and the site of a casket, not to mention one with an American flag drapped over it, will make anyone think and appreciate their own lives. I only hope that letting these “homecomings” be photographed and then printed will only help us reflect on the real news, not some crazy couple and their spoiled 8 children…
This is a great article Blake. It seems that these days, even with all the resources we have at our finger tips, people know less about the war then they did in 1942. With media blackouts all people know is that the number of soldiers dying is increasing rapidly but all it is to them is a number. I think people like it that way sometimes, so they can distance themselves from what’s really going on. If it doesn’t gives you chills or sadden you to see caskets with an American Flag drapped over it…….then in my opinion you aren’t much of an American. Well written article my friend and keep up the good work. God bless our Troops and bring them home safe.
Here was my problem. This seems too much like a political ploy by the president. Why did he need to take pictures? To prove that he actually does care about the soldiers despite the fact that presumably he is not going to send the number of troops requested by their General? In contrast, President Bush would routinely take trips there to watch the fallen soldiers return and to comfort the families and didn’t need a picture to do it. This administration has made everything about a photo op or a campaign slogan. It just doesn’t feel real. I think Liz Cheney said it best “If you want to trully honor the fallen, Mr. President, Win the war.”
The US Government is the largest terrorist organization ever known to makkind, and we Americans will suffer for their actions as many other innocent people around the world will also.
BEZ, Bush not only never posed for pictures, but it was the policy of his administration to not let the press take pictures of the caskets at all, not just with the president. I think it’s important to let the press publish pictures of the fallen, but I agree that the president being in the pictures has very little significance. I know Bush visited the fallen too. The importance is the exposure at all, which was absent before.
Actually, it’s an 18-year-old policy and it stems from the first Bush Admin. So, it was George H. W. Bush not G.W.B. anyway, public sentiment or publicity grabs aside, I want media coverage of the coffins as long as the families agree. Ultimately it is up to the family and that’s right.