Monday, October 01, 2007
Inside from Iraq
I got an email from one of my friends that is stationed in Iraq the other day that he sent to many people, letting us know how he was, and the real conditions of the war. Among other things, he shared that things are VERY different from what the news and the politicians portray them to be. He also said, "It hurts to hear the politicians say,'we can't win this war'". I can only imagine! Whether or not we agree with our country being over there is not the issue. We must support these soilders not matter what! They are risking their lives daily becasue our country asked it of them. I can't type the whole email, but some of the statistics made me cringe, they are so brave! So, I just wanted to let you all know that things aren't always what others say they are. And, I also wanted to ask a question: why doesn't the news and the politicians show us both sides of the war, why is it so one-sided? Because of his email, I have a totally new perspective of the war in Iraq! I wish everyone could see both sides!
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10 comments:
I've seen both sides. One of my friends on my HS track team went into the marines. I had known him for a 3 years, but when he got back from training, he was completely different. You're listening to a brainwashed side of things. And you would be brave too if you had some half-whit with a gun telling you what to and the threat of military justice hanging over your head.
He better say he can win! Cheerleaders can cheer a team to the end but if the players think they are going to lose it's all over. It is our job as coach to know what is possible and what is not. Even so, we can't let our players give up hope that is for sure.
Be careful in coming to conclusions based on the views of one person, since that is anecdotal evidence.
Also keep in mind that the media has a bad news bias on pretty much every topic -- they will always show bad news over good, no matter what the subject.
Try reading the book "1984" by George Orwell. Then it might help answer some of your concerns about the lopsidedness of what is being presented.
I agree with the professor, that you do have to be careful about one person's opinion. However, I do agree with you about the media. It is very biased, no matter which station you watch.
Incidentally, George Orwell, when he wrote the famous book wasn't talking about some futuristic society when he wrote the book in 1948, he just switched the eight and the four around. I believe he was referring to England at the time. But some of that can be witnessed in other countries.
Some of the members in my family do not watch the news because, for the most part, it broadcasts bad things about the war and events that happen in the United States. I have a family member over in Iraq, and my family only pays attention to the emails he sends us instead of following the news. Personally, I think that citizens would have a similar perspective to yours of the war if someone close to them were in the war as well.
I don't weigh the e-mails so heavily anymore. This sounds evil but my cousin doesn't sound like himself for some reason through the e-mails. I also noticed he only responds to my e-mails and never takes the initiative to e-mail me first. I am led to wonder if I am really speaking to my cousin over there in Iraq or not. Sadly I can't think of anything we used to talk about that only we would know. I would have liked to use like some secret code or something. Altogether though this war is certainly stressful and causing a strain on families.
I don't weigh the e-mails so heavily anymore. This sounds evil but my cousin doesn't sound like himself for some reason through the e-mails. I also noticed he only responds to my e-mails and never takes the initiative to e-mail me first. I am led to wonder if I am really speaking to my cousin over there in Iraq or not. Sadly I can't think of anything we used to talk about that only we would know. I would have liked to use like some secret code or something. Altogether though this war is certainly stressful and causing a strain on families.
this is one example of how the news, and media are bias! This is why I never know what to believe. Who in the news is going to tell the truth? None of them because it will hurt ratings and support!
I think the media reports on bad things moreso than good things to give people a reason to watch, to complain. I can hardly remember the last positive bit about the war on terror I've seen. All I ever hear is the horrible stuff. A good friend of mine came home from Iraq and told me the news concentrates all of the bad stuff into one television show.
---But that same friend also told me that him and the guys he was with had to use civilian cars for travel because there were not enough military vehicles.
There's always going to be a good and a bad to every story but I think in the end us being in Iraq will better the world.
>There's always going to be a good and a bad to every story but I think in the end us being in Iraq will better the world.
It is true that there are always good and bad sides of every issue. Be careful, though, not to replace what you want to be true with what is true. It isn't like the media is making up any of the bad stuff happening in Iraq. They are are leaving out some of the good things that happen (although the media is largely reporting the surge as a success, while experts debate that), but that doesn't make those bad things any less true.
Look at the whole picture and what is happening without letting your hopes for what could happen cloud your judgment.
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