I realize it is very chic these days to roll ones eyes and point laughingly when someone points out some bias in the media towards the campaign in Iraq.However I was talking to my son about the war today, and he asked an interesting question. See he reads alot about other conflicts, and he read about how during other wars, when someone acted heroically, they were sometimes brought home to tour the country and tell their story. Anyway he asked why we don't do that anymore and I got to thinking about it. I realized we have heard precious few stories about our soldiers being heroic. Whuch led me to ask myself. Is this because the are no heroes in combat anymore? Or is it just like the film from 9-11, where the media has decided it would not be good for one party to be talking surrender, and giving terrorists rights, and things like this, while the American people are seeing stories of heroism on tv and in the papers. I think it has been clearly demonstrated that there is a media bias concerning guns, and RKBA. So why shouldn't we believe their bias runs across a wider spectrum? Any thoughts?
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No heroism? None at all?
- Thread starter Big Ruger
- Start date
If you're not seeing stories of heroism you're not looking hard enough. Hell, I've read some pretty good ones in Time and Newsweek the past few months. CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC and even the Daily Show have reported on acts of heroism during this war.
What stories of old are you referring to?
What stories of old are you referring to?
The definition of hero has changed unfortunately .Today it includes people who do nothing ! For example a hostage who does absolutely nothing is called a hero . I refuse to accept that .I only use the original definition that a hero does something actively !.BTW there was a fellow who was a Marine in WWII ,who singlehandily captured a large number of Japanese !! He was in the news because he just passed away.Heros in Iraq are certainly there though you might have to look a little deeper since most of the media doesn't want to mention anything positive about the war.
Even a few flowers will grow out of a terrible mudslide...
Heroes are everywhere, we just don't see or hear about them much because the news is too busy focusing on the bad and keeping people in fear. As for heroes in Iraq, I do agree, that just because someone was just a hostage found in a hospital does NOT make them an automatic hero. ESPECIALLY if you're a soldier, now say if that hostage had to endure grueling torture from enemies but kept their mouth shut no matter what, then I'd give them credit. However, I would have to say, that probably because this is an unjustified war, no one wants to go looking for heroes because that'd just encourage an already bad situation. (Don't get me wrong, I have read about people in Iraq who ARE doing good, politics aside.) But remember that politicians and media are always more than willing to capitalize on other people's efforts for their own benefit.
Epyon
Heroes are everywhere, we just don't see or hear about them much because the news is too busy focusing on the bad and keeping people in fear. As for heroes in Iraq, I do agree, that just because someone was just a hostage found in a hospital does NOT make them an automatic hero. ESPECIALLY if you're a soldier, now say if that hostage had to endure grueling torture from enemies but kept their mouth shut no matter what, then I'd give them credit. However, I would have to say, that probably because this is an unjustified war, no one wants to go looking for heroes because that'd just encourage an already bad situation. (Don't get me wrong, I have read about people in Iraq who ARE doing good, politics aside.) But remember that politicians and media are always more than willing to capitalize on other people's efforts for their own benefit.
Epyon
warhol: v. trans. To force "15 minutes of fame" on the unwilling.
Keep in mind that the business model for the media is to manufacture audiences and readership for sale to advertisers. One of the most effective tools for gathering eyes and ears is pandering spurious emotional gratification to parasites in a process that bears far too much resemblance to the street sex trade (the notable exceptions are that pimps must allow their stable a share of the profits and the "ladies" have at least the potential for pleasure in the process.) Perhaps what you are seeing is evolutionary: the prey species, heroes, has outrun the parasites. Not to worry, if the existing parasites do not catch up, some other species will evolve to fill the niche.
Keep in mind that the business model for the media is to manufacture audiences and readership for sale to advertisers. One of the most effective tools for gathering eyes and ears is pandering spurious emotional gratification to parasites in a process that bears far too much resemblance to the street sex trade (the notable exceptions are that pimps must allow their stable a share of the profits and the "ladies" have at least the potential for pleasure in the process.) Perhaps what you are seeing is evolutionary: the prey species, heroes, has outrun the parasites. Not to worry, if the existing parasites do not catch up, some other species will evolve to fill the niche.
I am very surprised that Dieter Dengler popped into mind almost immediately, and by name. It took a search to get the whole name of Scott O’Grady.
During WWII, some military personnel who were recovering from wounds and had been decorated for bravery were paraded around the country on War Bonds tours to help motivate people to buy the bonds.
I imagine the social dynamics of the country has changed sufficiently that such tours would no longer be useful.
I imagine the social dynamics of the country has changed sufficiently that such tours would no longer be useful.
Love&Hate12
New member
I agree with Mete on this one. Such as Jessica Lynch being a hero, the SpecOps team who rescued her and got rid of all of the bottom feeders holding her captive were the heroes of that day.