Unmentioned Valor
As is with the MSM ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ otherwise it’s just any other news.
I think that is the point that former Marine and former assistant secretary of defense,
Bing West was making in todays Washington Posts column, Slighting
This Greatest Generation.
Hundreds of gripping stories of valor emerged that would have been publicized
in World War II. Although there are far more heroes than louts in the ranks, stories
of the abuses at Abu Ghraib and now at Fallujah vastly outnumber stories of heroism
and sacrifice.>
Not to take anything away from The Greatest Generation, but the behavior of our
soldiers today will stand scrutiny when compared to the performance of those in any
past war. The focus of the press on abuse is not due to any relaxation in military
discipline or social mores. Why was valor considered front-page news in 1945 and abuse
considered front-page news in 2005?> Now I understand the media has circulation and ratings to be concerned with. For without
those advert dollars their would be no media to even not mention the over-looked news
of the day. Wouldn’t it be cool though if the media could run two front page stories.“5 Marines Killed In Iraq”“Marine Saved Lives Of Others”
We as Americans certainly are not perfect but we do way more good in this world
than we do bad. Those aliens that are looking down on us and reading the Post and
watching the CNN certainly would not get that impression. They could only conclude
we were the worst of the worst.Someone who is a better writer than me could have put together a better example, but
I hope you get the point.All good things to Little Green Footballs for this story.