Article about COLBERT in the New York Times! (Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando)

[cagesoulman]

FUCK YEAH!

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/the-colbert-effect-and-troop-morale/


Build Morale Back Home

It was a great gesture of solidarity for Stephen Colbert to get his head shaved during his televised U.S.O. morale-building tour in Iraq. But there was another moment that was more motivating.

In one of his monologues, Mr. Colbert casually used the all-purpose Army slang, “hooah.” His audience did what soldiers do in that situation: they called it back to him, loud and proud, several hundred men and women in uniform shouting a single, slurred syllable: “HOOOAAAAHHH!”

Mr. Colbert seemed startled, and his reaction symbolized the barrier between military and civilian society, which is part of what he went over to address in the first place.

The U.S.O. is a fantastic organization with a storied history, but Mr. Colbert’s effort this week stood apart, because it was as much about boosting the morale of civilians back home as it was about boosting the morale of the troops. Getting American civilians to notice and care about the war again can’t help but have an impact on the motivation of the 130,000 or so soldiers we still have on the ground. Not to get all Matthew-Broderick-in-“Election” here, but there is an important difference between morale and motivation. (more at the link)

[itsrobert]

1. This is not an "article", it's a "blog"

Not actually printed in the NY Times.

[cagesoulman]

3. OK, man, a blog, whatever

But the link was on the front page of the site, so FUCK!

Colbert should get an Emmy. Those 4 programs were excellent.

[cagesoulman]

2. And this one

What Soldiers Need to Hear
Richard Kohn

Richard H. Kohn

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/the-colbert-effect-and-troop-morale/

...Yet morale still rests to some degree on soldiers’ sense that America’s goals are praiseworthy. Other factors have also influenced morale like confidence in their political and military leadership; belief that the strategy and tactics being employed are smart and will succeed; faith in their equipment; unit pride and cohesion; and the conditions of service, from food and living conditions to the belief in the fairness of their treatment. Also important is their expectation that the government and the people care about them, will care for them and support what they are doing and how they are doing it.

That’s the overriding message of Stephen Colbert’s visit beyond the sheer entertainment value: that famous Americans care, and that the American people respect and support their service and sacrifice.

[cagesoulman]

4. Shameless kick

for a great guy