You Are Right, Martha Gillis
With five KIA this past week, this question has crossed my mind each time I have seen the morning news in the DFAC.
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A life of Worth, Overlooked
My nephew, Brian Bradshaw, was killed by an explosive device in Afghanistan on June 25, the same day that Michael Jackson died. Mr. Jackson received days of wall-to-wall coverage in the media. Where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers who died that week? There were several of them, and our family crossed paths with the family of another fallen soldier at Dover Air Force Base, where the bodies come "home." Only the media in Brian's hometown and where he was stationed before his deployment covered his death....
MARTHA GILLIS
We all have to arrive at our own answer for that one as Ms. Gillis did. Brian was not overlooked because she and I am sure others including his comrades loved him and will miss him.
Best regards
Tom
Martha Gillis deserves condolences and has my appreciation
My late Mother was a Gillis. Thus I am especially senstive to Martha Gillis's nephew giving his life for our way of life.
The media are mad in their focus, and as another says on this thread obsessed with extra profit via sensationalist drivel.
Proper honor and condolences and appreciation to Martha Gillis and her entire family,
George Singleton, Colonel, USAF, Ret.
Alabama, USA
My God, are you serious???
First of all, I am very sorry Mrs. Gillis lost her son, but really, besides that, I do not understand why she is so upset. Normally we hear about men killed in Iraq on the national news and mostly in that dead's soldiers hometown local news. But I do not understand why this woman and her family are so upset because of the MJ coverage. Is there suppose to be coverage about her son, 24 hours 7 days a week. I did not see that special treatment for anyone else killed in Iraq since the war started. So honestly, I do not understand her gripe. Her son was not a entertainer who sold millions of albums and was long in the limelight. If you ask me, it sounds selfish and she is mad at the wrong people. Get mad at Bush and all the other politician that voted for this war. Don't take your frustration out on MJ or his family because they would not do that to you. If anything, they would have been caring. Instead she decides to go on this tirade just because. You tell me of a time prior to MJ and her son's death that the deaths of American soldiers have been "all over" the news and then I will share her concern. But as of right now, get over it, mourn your son, I thank you for his service, send Bush a letter and ask him why he started the war. Jesus!!!
If you have nothing positive to say
just saying nothing is generally a better idea. She's entitled to her opinion and you're entitled to yours. If this is your priority:
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"...Her son was not a entertainer who sold millions of albums and was long in the limelight."
Then you might consider spending more time watching entertainers and less time cruising boards centered on subjects that are apparently not of real interest to you. Just a thought...
You miss the point. That's unusual...
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Originally Posted by
Fuchs
Millions will miss MJ, mere dozens will miss some unknown soldier who died in a distant place.
To those of us who don't give the proverbial fig for Michael Jackson -- or any other entertainer -- the fact that millions might miss one of them is puzzling at a minimum. To me, it's down right ludicrous but if people want to wallow in illusion, who am I to complain. :confused: :rolleyes:
No one expects more than the family and close friends to miss a soldier who was killed to be deeply concerned. Most of those are aware that, today, said soldier volunteered and was doing something he wanted to do, so there's generally no big cry of 'waste.' As others said above, that wasn't the point she was making.
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The news are no place for "normal" deaths, or else CNN would need to hire speed rappers to at least mention the names of all people who died.
That's true and as Steve Blair said, that trend in this country has been complained about on this Board among other places by a number of people. You didn't necessarily have to have read some of those threads but neither did you have to assume that many here agree with the media approach.
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The world isn't fair, get over it.
That was just a stupid and gratuitous insult to a lot of people here, most of whom who've been places and done things you haven't. You really ought to curb your occasional rather stupid and unthinking arrogance.
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The American military (well, people associated with it) often looks to me like an attention/appreciation whore that behaves as if it's much more important (and ethical) than anything civilian.
That's a fair comment, there's some validity to it and you're not alone in those thoughts.
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You guys should live a few years as a European soldier - neglected by politicians, neglected by public, low prestige and utterly irrelevant in general social life and economy. That would put things back into a healthy perspective.
I disagree that it's healthy -- for Europe or her soldiers. I do agree that we do a far better job over here (not that we do all that great; there's a lot of superficiality).
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No offense intended, but it's really kind of obvious and extreme to me.
Fair opinion but the unnecessary "...get over it" crack negated your "No offense" line.
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I didn't write this for this one case - I've seen many indicators for years and it had to be said sometime.
So have we all -- that's why a great many people in the US do not agree with our media approach. :mad:
Does Dale Carnegie have your address?
Good job of stating your opinions. You're certainly entitled to them and to state them.
Others may have differing opinions, they are equally entitled to state their ideas as I'm sure you just forgot
Germany and the US are very different Nations with very different traditions and attitudes. I don't agree with what little I know of German attitudes and you don't agree with what little you know of American attitudes. We'd probably both be better off if we knew a little more. Can't speak for German Media but I'd advise anyone from elsewhere not to judge the US by the media or comments on the internet here, one could get some flaky ideas, apparently. In any event, my point about egregious insults stands; they add nothing to any discussion.
You seem to throw minor insults about easily and also seem to believe that if things are not done the European -- and preferably German -- way, those who do not conform are stupid. Overlooking the insults, if you really believe that, that's sort of sad. :(
You also throw the Fascist tag about a lot. Why is that? :confused:
You consistently contend that the US is the odd man out in the world in many respects. That's true, has been for many years. So what's your point? Everyone knows that and, mostly, we here do not care what others think of us. It's almost like you were carrying a grudge or something. :eek:
With respect to all three of those comments, surely you haven't forgotten your own advice:
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The world isn't fair, get over it.
:D
Now that you and devmoonbat have completely derailed a thread that was respectful of someone else's concern -- and opinion, I'll apologize for both of you and suggest if either of you or anyone else has any off thread comments, start another thread or send a PPM to to the target of your choice. With that, we should return to the thread topic.
Good point, Mrs. Gillis. I wish I had an answer. Other than pointing out that some in the world are more concerned with self and illusion, I don't.
A slightly different nugget...
This issue was red hot a couple years ago at the height of the anti-war protests…
I very much disdain the legal implications that Soldiers – like all government employees – are public figures and therefore do not have the same rights to privacy and protections that private citizens do. The idea that I have no control over my name, image, or the ability for my family to do the same in the event of my passing infuriates me.
I understand and sympathize with this mother who has lost a child. It must be horrible to have your grief running parallel to a famous person or coincide with any event that makes you remember. In total seriousness, the death of Michael Jackson is always going to be linked to the death of her son. That the media coverage is effervescent can only delay her journey through the grieving process.
However, I do think this is an important watershed. The media and the forces who oppose the military in general, the war in particular, have moved on from using dead Soldiers as endorsements for their cause. While I understand her pain, I’m also reassured that her son’s name and image aren’t being used for purposes he may not have endorsed.
In other words, I would rather there be too little coverage than too much of the wrong kind.
I could say 'then you weren't paying attention' but I won't.
We're all different and have varying ideas of what's important and what's not. What I will say is that if you do it right, it's a jarringly, sometimes achingly selfless line of work. Obviously, not everyone agrees with that but in the end, no matter what they believe, it most always works out that way. That's okay.
I'm luckier than many -- haven't got regret one...:wry:
Oh, only thing I told my kids -- no funeral for me, throw the ashes from the cardboard box in the river and shoot any religious or news person that appears. ;)
Georgia Air National Guard Hooah!
Thank you, CPT Adair and MSG Riley!
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A Soldier Comes Home
On July 5, The Post published a letter from Martha Gillis of Springfield, whose nephew, Lt. Brian Bradshaw, was killed in Afghanistan on June 25, the day that Michael Jackson died. The letter criticized the extensive media coverage of Jackson's death compared with the brief coverage of Lt. Bradshaw's death. Among the responses was the following letter, written July 9 by an Air National Guard pilot and a fellow member of the crew that flew Lt. Bradshaw's body from a forward base in Afghanistan to Bagram Air Base. Capt. James Adair, one of the plane's pilots, asked the editorial page staff to forward the letter to the Bradshaw family. He and Brian Bradshaw's parents then agreed to publication of these excerpts.
Dear Bradshaw Family,
We were crew members on the C-130 that flew in to pick up Lt. Brian Bradshaw after he was killed. We are Georgia Air National Guardsmen deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. We support the front-line troops by flying them food, water, fuel, ammunition and just about anything they need to fight. On occasion we have the privilege to begin the final journey home for our fallen troops. Below are the details to the best of our memory about what happened after Brian's death.
Really great letter for Mrs. Gillis about her late nephew
Outstanding honors for Lt. Brian Bradshaw.
Thanks for sharing this WASHINGTON POST letter to the editor with us.
George L. Singleton, Colonel, USAF, Ret.
Regular USAF, Tennessee Air National Guard & USAF
Reserve (USSOCOM)
Do we really want in that "Band of Brothers"?
There's an email floating around that supports many of the points being made here - while claiming that Ed Freeman passed without notice on the very day Michael Jackson died. Snopes has already set that to rights, but [sigh] the irony is obvious and painful. Meanwhile 'Shifty' Powers (Band of Brothers) passed on June 17th. Apparently now there's an email comparing him to Jackson circulating, too.
A father who lost a son in Afghanistan at about the same time - and who was a user of Twitter - began a campaign to get his son's name into the top ten hot list there, alongside Jackson, Miley Cyrus, et al.
I pass no judgment on any of these actions. I can only imagine I feel the pain.
Notices of the passing of heroes, on the battlefield or years later, immediately bring to my mind final scene from Private Ryan - the film that led to Band of Brothers: "Tell me I have led a good life." Each of us must ask and answer that question of ourselves in our own way. Whether consciously or not, for many fine folks Michael Jackson's death answers that existential question the fictional Private Ryan posed when confronted by the ghosts of men known but to him.
People like stories about untimely celebrity death, especially when the cause was avoidable - it demonstrates they are better off than celebrities, that while their life isn't lived in a mansion maybe that isn't so bad after all.
Soldier stories make them question whether they deserve what they have.