This SHOULD be front-page news...

[Spartan198]

And just what's so funny?

The obvious question is why do you devalue your genes to theirs even at a 1 to 1 exchange rate?

It's called brotherhood. Ask a US Navy SEAL or a British Royal Marine, they'll explain it to you.

And where, pray tell, did I claim to be genetically-superior to anyone? I fail to understand what my genes have to do with anything.

[Louis VI the Fat]

This should be front page news as well!!!

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was presented a great challenge and opportunity: Would he have his men lead the charge to attack the indomitable enemy's fortifications? Only a few days ago other troops had attempted to take the stronghold and failed. However, if the 54th could succeed, a significant victory would be celebrated by all. To this request, Shaw answered a firm "yes." He would place his duty and loyalty to country, family, and regiment above his own personal desires. For deep within he held a secret fear that this would be his last engagement.

That evening, the brave colonel led his men in the charge along the beach to the stronghold, as shells and shot rained down relentlessly on the gallant 54th. Though their lines were mowed down and bodies strewn across the sand, he rallied the surviving men onward. As Shaw reached the top of the parapet, he was struck by a bullet and killed. The following day, his body was buried in the sand along with those of his men. The mission did not succeed, but the efforts they made and the significance of what was achieved in that fateful event would not be forgotten.

Since America's liberal press won't report this story, I am bringing it to you. They made hate America's brave, but we do not. They wish America loses this war, so they cover up heroic stories of brave men like Robert Shaw. However, the media fails to remember that men and women like this man risk everything for their right to report on anything at all.

God bless this hero and his family.

[Tribesman]

Take your conspiracy theories .

Spartan , it is you that has the conspiracy theory , you started a topic about it

But I do note that you are unable to give a single sensible answer to any of the questions put to you ...but I ain't really surprised at that .

But hey have another go , just do the easy one .
Why should this soldiers death be front-page news on every newspaper ?
But please don't write ...

Because I obviously hold my brothers and sisters in combat in much higher regard than you do.

.....
again as in case you didn't notice that is just laughable nonsense

[Ser Clegane]

General message:

Please keep this thread civil (i.e. no personal attacks or flaming[/b])

Thanks

[Tribesman]

Since America's liberal press won't report this story, I am bringing it to you.

Louis , there is a subtle thing with this taking the piss .....it works better if you don't link to a site that features things written in the media at the time about Shaw and his regiments actions
You should have just stuck to some of the later publications

[Spartan198]

Explaining "esprit-de-corps" to someone who hasn't experienced it on some level is impossible. Once they have experienced it, it is unnecessary.

Yeah, good point.

Spartan , it is you that has the conspiracy theory , you started a topic about it

Wrong. I started this thread to further aid in spreading the word of this SEAL's selfless sacrifice.

But hey have another go , just do the easy one .
Why should this soldiers death be front-page news on every newspaper ?

Because he's a better man than you'll ever be.

again as in case you didn't notice that is just laughable nonsense

So my loyalty to my country and people is laughable nonsense to you? Well, I guess that's just proof of how little I give a about what you think.

It's called brainwashing, and it's the main tool of any modern military organisation. You are not an individual but part of a "unit" a mere cog in the war machine.

Just like on a soccer, football, or rugby team when the coach emphasizes teamwork.

You can stick what you like on his coffin, it won't bring him back nor justify this wasteful conflict.

Okay, now this thread is going in exactly the direction I didn't want it to go. I'm asking it be closed now.

[Tribesman]

So my loyalty to my country and people is laughable nonsense to you? Well, I guess that's just proof of how little I give a about what you think.

It is laughable nonsense because it in no way answers the question it was a reply to .
Simple isn't it .

A really simple question that you cannot answer because your whole premise is flawed .
Which is probably why you are unable to answer any of the questions posed .

But hey your patriotic loyalty , no doubt about that eh , lets see how the cheese eating surrender monkey put it
Well...a conspiracy theory. Let's name it a call for propaganda. This email-campaign that just won't die is a fossil from 2006, back when it was considered patriotic to be in war mode. To be uncritical. To tow the line.
Yay patriotism

Because he's a better man than you'll ever be.

Errrrr...currently he is a decomposing corpse isn't he , perhaps you had better change the tense of that statement . Actually is that really a statement or just a really lame attempt at flaming you tried ?

[KukriKhan]

Yeah, good point.

I started this thread to further aid in spreading the word of this SEAL's selfless sacrifice.


Okay, now this thread is going in exactly the direction I didn't want it to go. I'm asking it be closed now.

The stated objective having been achieved, we will comply.

Thanks for all contributions.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

A genuine hero. I was quite choked up listening to Sinise recount his story.

And just what's so funny?

I think his smilie was mocking laughter based on the "classical" style of the rhetoric you employed.

It's called brotherhood. Ask a US Navy SEAL or a British Royal Marine, they'll explain it to you.

In my experience this is inaccurate. Explaining "esprit-de-corps" to someone who hasn't experienced it on some level is impossible. Once they have experienced it, it is unnecessary.

And where, pray tell, did I claim to be genetically-superior to anyone? I fail to understand what my genes have to do with anything.

Pappy is applying a scientist's/logician's metric. A one-for-one preservation of one person's genes -- the only thing that passes to/helps enact the future of the species -- for another's is zero sum. The saving of more than one for a one-person sacrifice would be a "profit" under this metric.


While this man's heroism cannot reasonably be doubted -- nor the Lance Corp's in the other example -- newsworthiness is another matter. The paper's primary point on the issue would be: "will it sell more papers?" Lacking some element of "singularity" (First female, etc.) it will be reported but will probably not garner front page above the fold status.


I think your larger complaint, however, is that US media reportage of the war is slanted in favor of those stories which depict the horrific nature of war, its attritive character, and (at least to some extent) its futility. Stories which highlight success or heroism, while reported, seem to be reported more "neutrally" (actually this is as it should be) as opposed to those that highlight the negatives (which seem to get a tone, emphasis and placement that enhance their saliency and it is this tone that may seem to be "taking sides"). This is an important question, though studies of media efforts are mixed.

Morally, it poses a bit of a dilemma. If one reports war in a tone that conveys a sense of "glorious endeavor involving noble sacrifice for one's nation" then it can be argued that you are glorifying something that is at best a necessary evil and at worst the active embodiment OF evil. On the other hand, if one reports only the horrific consequences of war -- casulaties, "collateral" damage, social and economic disruption, and the socio-emotional barbarity of war -- then you are likely contributing to a sapping of public morale in support of combat operations. While opposing war as a concept is noble, and an ideal to which all should probably aspire, there are practical difficulties with such a stance. Perhaps this area of "tension" is what should truly be explored here?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I think his smilie was mocking laughter based on the "classical" style of the rhetoric you employed.

Don't you find this statement to be absurd?

I'd dive on a grenade in half a heartbeat if it meant preserving the life of even just one of my comrades.

You might as well give him the medal of honor already, no doubt he's brave enough. I'll grant you his actually being a soldier makes it less silly than it first appears.

[Beren Son Of Barahi]

The needless loss of life is something us colonials have been trying to avoid for a long time; preserving as much life as possible is the name of the game, doing everything you can to keep yourself and your mates alive is something the Australian army is quite fond of. Also good and proper planning has saved more lives then someone jumping on a grenade ever has.

Having said that, saying something like "i will jump in front of a bullet and you won't" doesn't really further debate or reflect on anyone with any great light.

The object of war isn't to die for your country; it is to make the other bastard die for his. Gen G Patton.

[LittleGrizzly]

Im sure we would all like to think we would jump on the grenade as well to save our fellow men, i have been jumping on imaginery grenades and jumping infront of imaginery bullets the length of my imaginery life (when me and the imaginery missus aren't over ms. alba's house) when the grenades turn real its a lot harder to do the right thing....

[caravel]

And just what's so funny?

It's called brotherhood. Ask a US Navy SEAL or a British Royal Marine, they'll explain it to you.

And where, pray tell, did I claim to be genetically-superior to anyone? I fail to understand what my genes have to do with anything.

It's called brainwashing, and it's the main tool of any modern military organisation. You are not an individual but part of a "unit" a mere cog in the war machine. You can stick what you like on his coffin, it won't bring him back nor justify this wasteful conflict.