Just a little upset

Well now that the month of chaos is over maybe I can blog a little more. Who would have thought that the month of November would be so busy? Certainly not me. But I'm also at the bottom of the food chain in terms of job policy.

Well I'm kinda perplexed about something. Perplexed, confused, and continuously pondering that is. I have to wonder about the basic question that most soldiers have about the media: why do they always concentrate on the negative aspects of military life? The military has its share of frustrations and tragedies just like any dangerous job, and the press doesn't help it at all. For instance I had learned this weekend that we had lost another three brothers overseas in Afghanistan. OK. Losing your life this way is a soldiers lot, and any troop worth his salt knows it. It's definitely a tragedy. I heard it on the radio first because I'm an admitted news-phile, and I like to know what's going on in the world. Throughout the day I heard the same piece on the radio, and the television, and read it on the online papers more times than I can count. I figure that's alright, after all it's just one day right? Not everyone is like me and I can't expect everyone to hear the news the same time I do, so 24hrs. to get the word out is enough.

The next night on the late night news (around 2300 local) there was a nice piece out of Afghanistan about a new air wing being setup to transport our guys around. Very nice, it's about time we got some improved capability, but wait....What is THIS!?!?! Flag draped caskets? What the hell do they have to do with the new air wing? Oh I get it. This is the ramp ceremony that happened the day before. Yeah. Well that was pertinent information that I needed to see.... again... after the fact.

So I'm upset. Just a little. I've heard the news already. In fact everytime I hear of another military death, I always keep pinned to the news until I know who's gone. After all the military is my extended family, and I usually know someone who is deployed, so I have to make sure that it wasn't someone I didn't know. HOWEVER the impact of another fallen brother is still felt, and I still feel for the families who have suffered such a grievous loss. So with that said, there is no need to splash the ramp ceremony all over the news. It's not only respectful for the families who have to deal with the loss, but it's also a morale issue. In my time overseas I attended several of these ceremonies, including one which I sent a member of my platoon home, and another which I had helped carry one of my buddies on to the plane. His flag draped casket was fairly heavy, but not as heavy as the burden I carried in my heart after his loss. Every soldier who loses a buddy carries that weight throughout the remainder of their time on earth. So why keep running it on the news? Why throw that up on the screen for a few days, when one day is enough to get the word out? Military deaths are more controversial because of the nature of war, and the politics involved with them. No one wants war, but countries get involved in them regardless of who has been elected. The news supposedly has a duty to expose the truth of things, yet truth becomes lost in sensational headlines, hot topics, and buzz words.

So now I'm upset. There's no need to drag it all out like this. Their gone, their families are grieving, and what's done is done. We don't forget their service, those who knew them, although I'm sure the general populace won't be as vigilant.

Anyways I'm out of steam. And just for the record it's 3 days after the last 3 deaths, and it's being politicized on a radio talk show I'm listening to this morning. Go figure.

Lest we forget.

Freeman