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: