Ed Henry at CNN has a point that he'd like to make. The Communist News Network, as we in the military often fondly refer to CNN, has not been a great buddy of Soldiers and Marines downrange who are doing the heavy lifting. They occasionally wrap a flag around something, but we often get the impression that it's just theatrics. The flag is rather eye-catching.
CNN is one of those organizations with the schizophrenia to pretend in their reporting that they are somehow an outsider. They aren't really Americans, they're detached observers. This lofty perch that they claim for themselves sets them outside of the pettiness of actually belonging to something other than the brotherhood of The Media. Anyway, we disdain them for their biased reporting and little agendas.
One of these agendas appears to be demonstrating to Americans the "real cost of the war." Ed Henry is hoping that President Obama will side with CNN on this, and asked at the press conference on Monday (which was about the "Stimulus Package") if the President will be removing the restriction keeping the media away from the repatriation of the fallen at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
If you haven't seen this response to Mr. Henry's question, please do so. It is profound.
There is no doubt that this was not only Mr. Henry's question, but that of CNN. It certainly had nothing to do with the topic of the evening. CNN has a point to make, and the flag they want to wrap around themselves in this case is already wrapped around the casket of a servicemember who has given their all for their country. Even asking to be able to use such images for any reason other than to honor the fallen is heinous.
As Mr. Henry explained in his question to the President, CNN's reason is not to honor the fallen, but to demonstrate cost. Criteria for heinousness met.
CNN sucks.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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Thank you for getting the word out. Let's stop the CNN and other media hacks from profiting off the fallen. If Mr. Henry or anyone else wants to know the cost of War, come see me and I'll show you what a Life Time of Love looks like and that is what the Stokely Family and many others have paid. But, lenses off our flag draped caskets arriving at Dover.
ReplyDeleteRobert Stokely
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG
As a mother of a Corpsman who is presently serving in Iraq this pisses me off to no end. I will be calling my Congresswoman and voicing my opinion (I will be polite thru gritted teeth). These people are leeches and the scum of the earth. Wanting to use what is a private and painful moment for the left wing agenda makes me sick. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Mr. Stokely, your son is my hero. Robyn
ReplyDeleteOld Blue,
ReplyDeleteI respectfully disagree. In my mind it is these very images that the American people must see. I don't believe it should be some media frenzy with multiple lenses and rapid shutter fire. Perhaps one lone camera to video these proceedings. For alot of Americans it is, "out of sight, out of mind." We need to be reminded of what is going on in this world and the cost of our involvement in the GWOT. These images serve to slap us back into something more important than Friday night football and and our 401K's. Each night before dinner my family and I sit and pray for these men and women. Americans need to be reminded to do the same. And in so doing, dialogue about these wars. Let the chorus of debate reach our politicians and inform them what WE think is important; weather to stick it out or ask for a conclusion.
I resented George Bush for not allowing this. It just didn't smell right to me. It smacked of someone not owning a decision that had human casulties as ramifications. What came out later about our going into Iraq merely solidified that opinion.
I mean no disrespect to those familys whatsoever. It is with profound grief that I view those coffins. But Americans need to bear witness to the reality of war. Not some sanitized head in the sand version of what our former president would have liked us to see.
VACRNA:
ReplyDeletehow does showing my son's flag draped casket at Dover on the internet, in a newspaper, magazine, on TV or however bear witness to the reality of war? If that is why Dover should be open, then the news media should set up along roadways and film the funerals of the soldiers as their flag draped casket arrives at the funeral location and then again at the cemetery. But, then if they did that they would see the multitudes of people who are showing strong patriotic support for the fallen soldier and his family and that would be a positive story to tell and could not be twisted to the MSM agenda. Let's not forget that the MSM and others are like the consumate litte brat on the play ground who provokes a fight by holding his (or her) hand in front of two others and saying "first one to spit on my hand wins" and then jerking it away so both will spit on each other and then trade blows.
That said, did you read what I wrote at mudville? I accept and encourage the freedom of expression and debate, but what there can be no debate about is that the Iraq war was started by lawful authority accorded the president and commander in chief and that Congress by their very votes not only agreed with going to war but funded it then and funds it now. That said, our military personnel do not decide when, where or how long to wage war - they just carry out the lawful orders of the commander in chief who is the president.
Now that said, why should the media have access to a fallen soldier's flag draped casket before the family does? If you say they should for first amendment reasons, then why shouldn't they have the name and date of death of the soldier before the family does?
I probably shouldn't say this, but I am going to - if you haven't been where we as the family of the fallen are at, are you really the best judge and holder of the best field of view to decide what is best for us and our fallen hero?
The media has plenty of access to the fallen soldier when the time is appropriate and that time is after the family has been properly notified and then given their soldier back.
Contrary to what now VP Biden is alleged to have said, the fallen are not snuck back into the country under cover of darkness for the news of that fallen's death has already been published in many places including on the DOD website and in the local papers where the fallen is from. It plain comes down to a matter of courtesy to the family - respect if you will - they should see their fallen's flag draped casket before the public and the media does and in many cases the family can't get to Dover when the body arrives and wait the several days it takes for the autopsy and preparation for burial before the body is sent to the fallen's home destination.
Just understand it is a very stressful and fatiguing and grief filled 10 days it usually takes to get a fallen home and to the family and buried. Is it worth the MSM and others have a photo op to make money to add to the family of the fallen's problems - in all reality, for the MSM if you have seen one flag draped casket you have seen them all. For the family, there is but that one.... and they should not have to see it flashed in their face in the MSM before they see it for themselves in private.
WE do not want to be where we are at as families of the fallen. We would rather be like many who get their loved ones home and live life with them. But we bear a special privilege of sacrifice for America and if we do not bear it, then who among you will bear it for us and for America? Who among you would trade places with us?
When those of you who have not lost a loved one in war and watched their flag draped casket come home stand in our shoes, then I am willing to concede the authority to you to make this decision.
With respect and apology for any appearance of tersness, I am a
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG
One thing I'm sort of uncomfortable with is the way this is being framed, both in the original CNN question, and also in the military.com poll, as the public/press vs military families. It entirely discounts the families that disagree with the current policy. It just seems like inaccurate and unfair framing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the actual issue, if they're going to do anything, they should just leave it up to the individual families. It's pretty disgusting to think that this would happen against a family's wishes.
Hey VA CRNA, go to freaking funeral then. You don't get the privilege that belongs to the families of our FALLEN. Oh, people like you wrap it up so politely, but I know your type. The answer is NO. Simple. Plain. Uncomplicated. NO.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Stokely,
I remember reading about Mike back then. I never met him, but I admired him and you. How have you been? I will continue to pray for our men and women in the armed forces and for the families and friends left behind to carry on. God bless your family and you.
Dear Old Blue, thank you for your wonderful post. You always know how to hit me square between my eyes. Have a nice day.
Rosemary:
ReplyDeleteWe are three and half years out from Mike's death and doing o.k. I spend a lot of time working with families like us who have lost a loved one in war, as well as parents who lose a child in other ways. I am always asked the question "does it get better." I honestly answer, now it does not, but if you try really hard, you can get better at handling it and have as full and happy a life as possible. We are trying to do that, but it is hard, especially with Mike's sister Abbey having nearly been killed in a wreck five months after Mike's death and a long recovery from that and then she contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite and that has been a battle even to this day. But there are many bright spots - my wife, Wes / Mike's brother and I each have good full-time jobs and our health is good; Abbey continues to make all high "A" in advanced subjects in high school even though she has missed about half her instruction time and she recently made a very high score on the SAT. We are living life and we will not give up.
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG
Mr. Stokely, sincere condolences and much admiration to you and yours.
ReplyDelete