One Soldier's version of the truth

See, even ILZ knows who the right people are. :wink:

From c.i.s link:



I think that Mel Gibson has raised the bar in America's quest for visual masochism. Reality shows have people doing disgusting things before the camera. It appears that nothing in sancrosanct, when it comes to the level of horror in which people appear to revel.

War is hell. Service men and women get killed in a war. That is the reality. There is no reason to have it thrown in our faces, in technicolor and surround sound, during the 6 o'clock news.

I saw that photograph (we subscribe to the Seattle Sunday Times) and I thought it was incredibly well done. It was a large front page photograph printed in color and while it was obviously sad that there was such a line-up of coffins, the fact that they were being so well cared for was the over-riding point I got.

Now, if there were photographs on the nightly news of bloody stumps, etc. ala every war movie made in the last twenty years -- I would consider THAT thrown in our faces.

That photograph was as pristine as a spray of flowers on a covered coffin. I don't understand why we would willing see our young soldiers go off in their battle dress fatigues, complete with helmets, kevlar and armed to the teeth... YET we shudder when some come home in a box? Where's the reality in that?

Very well said, Piffka, excellent point.
I can't envision any worthy argument against what you just pointed out. It's REALITY.
Note to all: people die in war. deal with it. It's a fact.
The picture is very tasteful in representing that fact.

I agree that I see nothing wrong with the photo. No reason in my mind why it could not have been taken. I don't think she should have been fired over it. That said, she should have been reprimanded for violating a Pentagon policy she should have known about. I'm not sure if I agree with the Pentagon policy, but from previous posts here it appears to have been initiated after imput from military families, and after all, they are the ones most affected.

Piffka, Maybe that's the problem; this administration refuses to let Americans see the reality of this war. Dead soldiers coming home in caskets is not gorry or unwarranted; it's the dead truth. It seems that the sanitized version of this war is preferred to the reality of it. How blind and dumbed down can Americans get? If they support this war, it must be realized that it's costing us American lives and billions of dollars for every month we are involved in this war. Makes me wonder where people's reality is; their head in the sand doesn't hide the fact about the cost of this war.

Thanks Suzy.

CoastalRat --I know that the Pentagon said it was the military family wishes. Why (Oh why?) am I SUCH a suspicious person when I hear edicts like that???

CI-- Yep. A quick perusal of 1984 will show us just how blind and dumbed-down we may already be.

A NOTE AND A TIP: I don't watch CNN, or FOX, or ABC, or NBC. I occasionally watch BBC but mostly I get my news by reading on a2k and other internet venues, as well as newspapers. I have chosen to remove myself from the multi-media event and the PR which is the reality for most Americans' evenings and I'm a happier person for it. Highly recommended. TURN OFF YOUR TV NEWS!!!

I saw the pic online today (just a small version on google news) and thought what a tasteful picture.

It does depict coffins with flags on them. It doesn't identify anybody. As a picture it is a beautiful picture. Unfortunately it is a sad symbol of America's loss of good people.

It is a reality that some people who go to war don't come back and as far as conveying that reality goes - the picture is an honorable way of doing that. No gore. No "shock value".

The photo we're discussing appears to be in honor of those who have died for their country. And honoring those people, regardless of whether we agree with the country's war, is the right thing to do.

It's as if they want to deny the reality, and speaks more to their control-freak stance on our media which is supposed to be a "free" press. The next thing we'll see is the deletion of pictures of grave site services with the American flag on the casket of returned soldiers, and only see the folded flag given to the grieving parents/family members.

In case you guys haven't seen this
Here's something interesting regarding this letter. A quick overview of what's accurate in his letter and what's not...Click here

Great site peace. Don't know how I missed that one, but thanks.

This is a true letter from Sgt. Ray Reynolds at least according to snopes.com. In regards to the question of authorship, it is true that SFC Ray Reynolds, a firefighter in civilian life, is a National Guardsman whose 234th Signal Battalion unit was called up to active duty, and that he wrote this piece. As Sgt. Reynolds responded to inquiries about his message:
I did write it and I am in Kuwait now on my way home. I wrote it while at home because I felt that too many people were exploiting the violence in Iraq to sell papers and gain votes. Sometimes the silent majority need to be awakened to respond to the bad things in our world. I am passionate about our President's decision and support this rebuilding whole heartedly...Yes legit..I am a fire fighter in Denison, Iowa and to verify, call Mike McKinnon of the Denison Iowa fire department.

As far as the list of things that happen in Iraq - These types of items are generally impossible to categorize with a single truth value because they typically contain a mixture of fact, opinion, subjective statements, inaccuracies, and literally true but often misleading claims. This holds true of such claims both positive and negative toward the war in Iraq.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/reynolds.asp

There are good people who apparently think that we were totally correct to invade Iraq and good people who think that despite Saddam being a horrible man, it was not a good precedent.

I wonder how many people can really say "Yes, it was a good idea to invade a sovereign nation based on deliberately mishandled innuendoes that turned out to be fiction?" We are paying for it, paying dearly, and the folks who are footing the bill are the soldiers and all the taxpayers. Meanwhile theose who are earning amazing profits are a few big corporations associated with gigantic infrastructure building and oil.

Meanwhile, what is going on in Afghanistan?

This letter could have been Gospel truth and it wouldn't change my mind about Iraq.

PIFFKA: Word.

This is typical, isn't it? First, people claim the letter is a fake. Then when it's proved to be real, they say it doesn't matter and try to direct everyone's attention elsewhere. Woo hoo.

I've been keeping my eye on this one for a snopes write-up.

Here it is: http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/reynolds.asp

Because of the multiple claims they do not address them but you can find that here:

http://www.orwelliantimes.com/2004/04/26.html

Thanks CdK!

As a matter of fact, I received that original email from a friend. I usually don't put much faith in claims made on how Iraq is doing without it being confirmed more than a few times. Too much propaganda going on - both ways.

That link to OrwellianTimes is fascinating. Thanks, Mr. DeKere.