Well said Tom.
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.
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.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
Best regards
Tom
Last edited by Tom Odom; 07-05-2009 at 02:55 PM.
Well said Tom.
Yes.
Tom, you have it accurately there. 5 British service men have lost their lives this week in Afghanistan; they have had to fight for media space with Michael Jackson and the Wimbledon tennis finals. But as you rightly state, our thoughts are with them and those brave coalition allies who have paid the ultimate price this week as well. Best borne in mind that its their scarifice that allows 'normal' life to continue. They shall not grow old.....
100% right.
It is not the admiration of crowds that most signed on for. His family and his buddies are the only ones who really mattered, and they will never forget.
Nothing but
absolute agreement on all the above.
Any man can destroy that which is around him, The rare man is he who can find beauty even in the darkest hours
Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur
I used to get mad at the press about things like this. As I get older and more cynical, however, I am finding myself placing more and more of the blame on my fellow citizens. The big "news" organizations are profit driven like any other business. They simply report what they believe the people want to hear. The fact that they are surviving or even thriving speaks to how well they can gage what the people want to hear. That tells me that a plurality if not a majority of my fellow citizens would rather hear about the freak show that is/was Michael Jackson and his dysfunctional family more than about ordinary citizens who have died in service to the nation. It sort of raises the bile doesn't it?
SFC W
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
George, very well put!
I was very pleased to see that 1LT Bradshaw will be duly honored today by The Patriot Guard Riders with an Escort and Flag Line.
His family still serves our nation
May he rest in peace!...Brian's father is a retired National Guard helicopter pilot. His mother is a retired Army nurse, a lieutenant colonel, she volunteered to return to duty to serve with the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Lewis. She is also the volunteer director for the altar servers at church.
Stan
If you want to blend in, take the bus
There is nothing I can add to the strong, good words already spoken here.
Martha,
Your frustration is shared but the media predictable. Your nephew sounds like a fine young man that any moral upstanding citizen would have been proud to have as their own. As a father of a 20yo actively serving in the Air Force, 2 nephews who served in the Army (one a Ranger the other Airborne) and one nephew Marnie Corp Reserve, I know how we worry when they deploy and are so grateful when they return. Each feel as your nephew did, that it was their duty to serve their country, but that isn't what the networks want us to think of our young men and women who serve. Instead, it makes a flashier headline to suggest that they may turn into terrorists when they come home. Now the Michael Jackson love fest, for a child molester, with some parents having served up their chldren for a payoff. The day our homeland is invaded all of the left wingers are going to wish your nephew was here to defend them. God save America, because we are quickly being disassembled.
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: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..."...Her son was not a entertainer who sold millions of albums and was long in the limelight."
Millions will miss MJ, mere dozens will miss some unknown soldier who died in a distant place.
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.
The world isn't fair, get over it.
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.
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.
No offense intended, but it's really kind of obvious and extreme to me.
I didn't write this for this one case - I've seen many indicators for years and it had to be said sometime.
Actually this HAS been mentioned before, Fuchs. The condition you mention was the lot of the American solider prior to (I'd say) about 1976 or so. I've been concerned about the deification (for lack of a better term) of service-people for some time now.Originally Posted by Fuchs
I'd say it stems from a (very) delayed reaction to the draftee army and (possibly) some guilty consciences on the part of some members of the 1960s generation. Some of the "better than thou" stuff existed for years prior to World War II (in fact, it's a common trend in the old Army & Navy Journal). Marc might be better-suited to discuss the reasons for this feeling, but I have my own theories as to at least part of its origin.
And you might have picked a better word that "whore" to make your point. I would say that in some ways it's more like an attention-deprived child, or the well-fed dog that your neighbor leaves tied in the yard all day. It barks and barks, not understanding (perhaps) that it's better off than the quiet dog next door that's only fed on weekends and beaten when it makes a sound.
"On the plains and mountains of the American West, the United States Army had once learned everything there was to learn about hit-and-run tactics and guerrilla warfare."
T.R. Fehrenbach This Kind of War
Devmonbar,
First of all I believe she lost her nephew, not her son. Secondly, that’s a very interesting first post. Were you randomly googling “forum threads on MJ funeral”? Also, I don’t think she’s asking for 24/7 coverage of “her nephew’s” passing, but a bit more recognition that a soldier died in service of his country. As for your argument that no other OIF KIA got any better treatment, just because that’s the way things are, it doesn’t make it right.
Some believe that national service is not about politics. You don’t join the US military and then pick and choose which order you’re going to follow or where you’re going to deploy to. So regardless which politician sent Brian Bradshaw into harm’s way, we should all be appreciative of his service. (Not saying that she doesn’t or shouldn’t hold Bush accountable. God knows I do).
Right at this moment the CNN homepage has got a half page display on MJ’s funeral, followed by 13 different stories (7 on MJ) and then the 8 soldiers killed in A-stan. I would’ve been satisfied if that article just listed the names of the KIA – maybe even at the bottom. But I guess there's no money in that.
Fuchs,
based on this and some of your previous comments, I can’t help but sense that your hold your country’s armed forces in very high contempt. If you’re comments are indicative of the general view of the German people towards the military, then I feel sorry for them – both the country and the soldiers. The relationship reminds me of a boy who got his heart broken once and is afraid to be vulnerable again.
My TPS reports never directly defended a country or saved a life. So, I feel what the military does is more important than what I do. Same for cops and fire fighters.
Ditto brother!
You miss the point. That's unusual...
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.
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.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.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 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.The world isn't fair, get over it.That's a fair comment, there's some validity to it and you're not alone in those thoughts.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.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).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.Fair opinion but the unnecessary "...get over it" crack negated your "No offense" line.No offense intended, but it's really kind of obvious and extreme to me.So have we all -- that's why a great many people in the US do not agree with our media approach.I didn't write this for this one case - I've seen many indicators for years and it had to be said sometime.
"Healthy" would be in-between.
The often-repeated idea that soldier's service is somehow especially valuable and important to the society (and therefore need appreciation) is a myth in my opinion.
Modern societies are extremely complex, and there are many components that are critical for the society as it is.
The only outstanding feature of the critical component "soldier" is that he's doing nothing of relevance most of the time.
There are some civilian jobs that aren't really necessary (let's say: jingle composer for commercials) - yet many civilian jobs are.
Soldiers are neither more ethical 'because they serve' nor more important than civilians in general.
I've seen too many - let's say Heinlein-inspired - remarks about how soldiers would be better people, more ethical, deserve this and that...
The average such comment (and I refer mostly to comments seen in the past years elsewhere) would get a "fascist" rating in Germany.
Just as a hint about where this point of view comes from:
Soldiers who look down to lesser civilians are usually associated to military dictatorships and Tiananmen square-like actions.
The coining German history event was the Zabern Affäre.
The official German position (and actually a very widespread one) is that soldiers are citizens in uniform. No more, no less. No special service, no special merit, no special ethical standing.
The only ones who disagree are the far left, but many of them are quite hypocritical about it, especially the former FDR supporters.
Now, the German way of doing things doesn't need to be a good idea for Americans - and it's probably not even a good idea for Germans.
Yet, the Americans seem to be on the end of the spectrum with their habit, and that should raise eyebrows.
The fact that ever since 1944 when FDR signed into law the first GI Bill to pay for college education for our brave military men and women we as a nation, the US, have continued to provide unique education benefits to our military as a huge "thank you."
Today even those in the Guard and Reserve, not regular forces on regular long term active duty have a GI Education Bill as well as service-specific higher education grants (non-repayable); growingly substantial re-enlistment bonuses, and related benefits civilians don't routinely have at their finger tips.
My wife and I continue to take vacations periodically in Europe...Germany, France, Ireland of latest dates. We find the people there very supportive of their national military and we also have met all ranks, including some Dutch Army folks, and find them all highly motivated, dedicated and key and welcome members of their local communities.
Thus, you to me sound out of step and bitter and not at all typical of either enlisted, NCO, or officers of European nations we randomly come in personal contact with over there in their own native nations.
Making an idol out of a homosexual pedofile sits poorly over here with Americans. The cultish reaction you see currently on TV or in our print media is a flash in the pan over a financially bankrupt individual whose life at the personal level was a disaster and an embarassment.
I contrasted a bit to make a point.
There's always some degree of appreciation, my point was about extremes and that neither extreme is a good idea.
Let's use an example from Austria:
The Austrians bought some used Swedish Draken fighters sometime in the 80's. They weren't loved at all, the regional head of government despised them and their noise.
The Yugoslav civil war began and some Yugoslav Suchois violated Austrian air space during their attack runs on Slovenian-manned border checkpoints.
The Drakens intervened in the next days and aforementioned regional politicians suddenly called them "his Drakens", loved them.
-------------------------
I think it's a good idea to grant different levels of prestige and appreciation to different jobs. Yet, it's no good idea to assign very much on soldiers, a bit above average may be OK.
To grant very much prestige, appreciation (and funds) to the military was proven to be dangerous from a society and politics point of view in many countries and ages.
The state's tools of power need to be sharp, yet fully under control. A powerful organization whose members think that they're better people than the normal citizens and thinks that it deserves better is plain dangerous. That's simply no healthy attitude.
It's equally not healthy to assign that little prestige, appreciation and funds to the military that it cannot recruit and keep enough smart people for doing its job effectively.
I believe my concern has a good reason. I've really seen a lot of Heinlein-esque remarks about civilians, "hippies" - enough to assume that it's a wide-spread phenomenon.
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