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11/17/2007 01:52:14 AM · #1 |
I'm not normally a rant kinda person, but I've had two cups of caffeinated coffee (they don't make decaf at the chow hall) and I've a need to vent...
OK, for all you US-based peeps - raise your hand if you know of the Barry Bonds steroid/perjury issues? OK, now raise your hand if you've heard of the Captain from Pennsylvania and the Sergeant from Iowa who were killed in Afghanistan on Monday? Or the six US service members who were killed last week in Afghanistan in an ambush after they paid a visit (not on patrol) to the village council in an Afghani town?
How many of you are aware that in Iraq, a Sunni leader brought 100 members of his community to a US/Iraqi sponsored police recruiting station to apply for jobs in a predominantly Shia neighborhood? And did you know that the labor force for support of camps in Afghanistan is made up of a good number of college educated citizens of Kyrgyzstan, who speak English, Kyrgy, and Russian, and are essentially working for minimum wage because it's better work than they can get at home in most cases.
I guess my point is I get kind of tired of the endless fascination with celebrities and the focus the US news puts on them. There are other things going on in the world besides athletes taking steroids and starlets getting drunk. |
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11/17/2007 02:48:36 AM · #2 |
I am glad at least one american understand that world is much more than what their tv channel show them.
I am sick of american tv channels showing a smallest news of american celebrity for months while neglecting even the biggest events of other part of the world. And yes, these channels claim that they are international (not just american) and their coverage is world wide.
For example CNN is pure joke in the name of broadcasting. They could spend days on Paris hilton jail time, as if this the most important thing in this world.
Message edited by author 2007-11-17 02:49:12. |
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11/17/2007 02:59:23 AM · #3 |
I broke a nail today and that wasn't on the news.....
Yeah it's very sad that this happens.
I'm working testing military equipment right now (on break), if that makes you feel any better. Supporting the troops!
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11/17/2007 04:51:07 AM · #4 |
The media here in SD made sensationalism stories about the million-dollar homes that burned down in the recent fires, yet the small homes, like the ones I was shooting, basically went un-noticed. Loss is loss, and I really suspect that the well-to-do were very well insured and will somehow make out in tax breaks etc, yet the little guys lost everything, are living in a car somewhere and have no means to recover from it.
I know what you mean Deb. |
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11/17/2007 05:04:54 AM · #5 |
Look on the bright side. In past generations such news would be completely lost. Now with technology people like you can share that news to a much wider audience. Information has never been shared more than it has today no thanks to big media of course.
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11/17/2007 05:36:42 AM · #6 |
I don't have a TV here but I will occasionally sit near one in the chow hall at dinner, just to see what's being shown. Last night (and I think this is what precipitated my rant) they were showing "Barry Bonds Watch" where helicopters were flying over very very expensive homes, even though they didn't know for sure which one was his, in hopes of seeing him, I don't know, pee in his yard or something?
Meanwhile, 'tis a quiet but still warm day here in Kuwait, where the greatest hazard remains getting killed on the freeways. The Kuwaitis seem, from my limited observations, to be very family oriented people. It's fun to pick people up at the airport... Entire extended families, with nannies, waits for passengers to arrive. They have flowers. There's a whole lot of hugging, kissing, and crying when the relatives do arrive. (And yes, men kiss each other here.) At malls and out on the walkways near the gulf, you see a lot of families walking together, especially for some reason fathers and daughters. The girls here dress in Western clothes until they "come of age" and don the more traditional style dress. Same is true for young boys, though they seem to take up the traditional clothing style a bit earlier than the girls. Women here have more freedom in dress, though, than in other Arabic countries, with more Western style clothing worn, often in conjunction with head scarves. Someone asked me in a PM why I don't have more pictures of women in my portfolio. It is my understanding that taking pictures of women is considered rude and offensive, and I have yet to work up the courage to ask any of them if I may. |
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11/17/2007 09:11:23 PM · #7 |
Well, I'm glad you mentioned this, Deb. I could care LESS bout Barry Bonds and what he or Brittany Spears or any of America's elite are doing, but I literally weep when I hear of yet another soldier from our town (or any town) being brought home to bury. Or when I think of our young friend leaving his wife and 2 babies for 15 months right at Christmas time to go over there and serve.
And I LOVE your journal of your time there. Show me that over a news clip about Barry Bonds ANY day!!!!!!!!
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11/17/2007 10:20:05 PM · #8 |
Honestly, I'd rather have you tell stories and show pictures about what's going on over there.
When the celeb stuff comes on my news, it's time to grab the remote, go to the head or something. I just don't care about them.
Oh yeah...Thanks for sharing your pictures and stories as well as for serving.
Message edited by author 2007-11-17 22:21:37.
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11/17/2007 10:38:35 PM · #9 |
As someone mentioned, it's very good that people aren't completely reliant on mainstream media for 'news'. I look forward to receiving emails from people stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan and getting their stories. It's a great way to get some small understanding of what's going on beyond bodycount headlines.
I like your pictures from in theater and wish you the best on your mission. |
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11/17/2007 11:04:17 PM · #10 |
| Raising my hand to most of this (I didn't know about the workers from Kyrgyzstan)... but only because I read international news on the internet. The only thing mentioned out of your questions on the local news was the Capt. from PA, because it was local. I don't even bother watching local news (except for the weather) because it's all fluff. |
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