If I'm a parent of a dead twenty-something US soldier from the Iraq war

[hector459]

I AM HIGHLY PISSED RIGHT NOW about all the drama and fanfare concerning the death of this woman who was largely responsible for her poor health condition and this administration's refusal, with Congressional support, to hide from the American people the death of my child and at least the deaths of 1600 other soldiers who were killed in Iraq and the over 10,000 soldiers who have been wounded (some of whom will dies from their wounds.) The media is complicit in this rank politcal stunt and should be ashamed.

May terri RIP.

[forgethell]

1. May she RIP. But,

don't you think that most people can consider more than one issue, person, position, action, or phenomenon at one time? I think they can, and I think Terri's death does not distract from the Iraq war at all. Just keep on plugging.

[doublethink]

8. You know .....

forgethell ..... America does forget hell unless it's shoved in their face 24/7 by the main stream media in this country. Yea I think America would show a bit more concern for our dead and wounded soldiers over-seas IF THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA would give as much attention to them as they did this Schivo fiasco these last two weeks! Any thoughts? Peace.

[forgethell]

13. I think that

most people know what they consider important, and I think that the news programs broadcast what they think people will watch. So far, Fox has been gaining and the liberal channels not. But it isn't because the information isn't available to the public. I think a substantial portion of them disagree with us.

What I don't know is what to do about it.

[jab105]

16. What liberal channels?

n/t

[hfojvt]

19. I wonder how many people did what I did

being in the hospital gave me limited cable TV for the first time, but a very strange remote. So I was like flip - Schiavo - flip - Schiavo - flip - Jackson - flip - Schiavo - flip. I might have enjoyed watching a news show or a discussion, etc, but I really have zero interest in Schiavo or Jackson. Have these stories been good for ratings? Or will people settle for watching it because they like "news" and all the news channels were obsessed about Schiavo? Nobody would be interested in the Federal Budget?

[sharonking21]

10. It is not that her situation

detracts most thinking people from the subject or any subject. But in order to understand and consider anything, you have to have information about it.

The problem is that the lack of coverage of the wounded and the deaths from the Iraqi war, indeed, the lack of coverage of the war itself and the lack of coverage of many other important topics renders us helpless to make good decisions based on information.

Instead, CNN, MSNBC and Fox go on binges of yellow journalism (Schiavo, Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart, Scott Peterson, any damn trial, any damn car chase etc.)--things that are cheap to cover (unlike Iraq or foreign affairs etc) and that still pull in the suckers. Further, the on-air staff are indeed becoming more and more the mouthpieces of their Republican bosses. Discipline has been imposed.

To the originator of this thread: I honor the service of your child and am deeply sorry about his death. I too think that the way the Bush administration has quashed coverage concerning wounded, deaths, funerals etc is an outrage. I am in the process of sending things to our soldiers through AnySoldier.Com (see my post elsewhere below) and although I am a liberal Democrat, I also remember that at one time (over my not-quite-dead-body) my son was a Marine. If you will go here, you will see links to a website that attempts to show a little about who died, who was wounded etc. But we shouldn't have to go there. Instead it should be on every TV set.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1355368&mesg_id=1355712

[hector459]

18. It seems that the MSM, DeLay and Bush can only deal with one thing!

That's my point.

[dave123williams]

2. Who'd you vote for?

[whitedove]

3. I am pissed too!

I am so sorry for your loss, Hector!

Yes, the American people should be outraged at this...

I want to yell at the top of my lungs
"America wake the FUCK UP!"

Peace,
Whitedove

[Up2Late]

4. I'm sad to hear about your loss

I think most here are Just as Angry, even though our level of loss is infinitely less than yours.

Not to pressure you to do this, but I'm sure the many here would like to pay proper respects to your lost Solder. If it wouldn't be too painful for you, could you give us child's name?

Again, I understand if you don't feel able to do this, at this time.:grouphug:

[thefloyd]

5. I agree with you 100%. Not only our soldiers who

where KIA but also all the Iraqi Civilians. Also, all the hoopla, concerts so on and so forth for the NYFD after 911, What about hoopla for the troops?

[stanwyck]

6. Actually, your point

is well-taken. My son is a Marine, back in Iraq for his second tour. The casualties have become acceptable to Americans. Not all Americans, of course. But too many consider the dead soldiers an acceptable cost. Lots of yellow ribbons and bumper stickers and flags, but not much true compassion for the fallen or their families. Yes, my son chose to enlist. But it is still unsettling to me that so many are distraught for Terri while blithely dismissing the deaths in Iraq. All the deaths. Including the Iraqi children.
And little is mentioned of WHY Terri became comatose. Why are the people so proud of their "culture of life" not making this a crusade against eating disorders? Why are these people, so overtaken with compassion and love, not warning young women of the dangers of anorexia and bulimia?
Curious.

[Steel City Slim]

7. My Deepest Sympathy For Your Loss

[Window]

9. That's the first thing that came to my mind.

Some damned nerve.

[Tim4319]

11. Hector, I am sorry for your loss!

You must have been reading my mind. I was trying to pose the question that touched on the death of Terry Schiavo and the deaths of the young men and women over in Iraq. I too wish that Terri may rest in peace, but I would like to know if someone will confront this administration on how they are handling the deaths of the service people versus the way they handle the death of Terri Schiavo.

[Binka]

12. Hector This Is A Hypothetical Right?

If being the operative word in your Subject. I think some here think you are speaking of a real personal loss. Maybe you should clarify. If you did lose a son I am so sorry but if this is hypothetical I think you should clear up any confusion.

[goodboy]

14. wanna really get pissed? 60% of wounded soldiers coming back from

Iraq have traumatic brain injuries, yet bush eliminated funding COMPLETELY for the Federal Traumatic Brain Injury Act.

link:

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050318/NEWS/503180384/1016/FEATURES07

[stanwyck]

15. Funds for post-trumatic stress syndrome

have also been drastically cut.

[Up2Late]

17. That's just Un-F*cking Believable

I hope you can find a way to get this into more media outlets.:banghead:

I'm e-mailing this to NPR, maybe they will cover it.

[goodboy]

20. I've emailed it to everyone I can think of. (nt)