Did anyone catch the Nightline episode called "The Fallen" on Friday? I think it was Friday anyway...where Koppel read the names and showed the faces of the 721 Americans that have died in Iraq?
I watched and was moved. I couldn't stop thinking how much that sucks for the families behind those names.
I was wondering what you kids thought about it. Koppel came on at the end and stated very clearly that it wasn't about pro or anti war positions, but just an honest accounting of the price that we've paid. I dig non-partisan shit like this. Word to Koppel.
Posted by colin at May 4, 2004 02:32 PMNon-partisan, my ass.
Ted Koppel is obviously just another tool of the vast left-wing media conspiracy, seeking to undermine the pursuit of freedom by, um, respecting the sanctity of human life.
Just ask Sinclair Broadcasting, who banned the Nightline broadcast from its eight ABC affiliates.
Posted by: Shippy at May 4, 2004 02:56 PMYawn. I heard about Sinclair. They were soundly denounced for being asshats. Koppel made it clear at the end of the show that it's not about politics.
Sinclair and its owners read that into it. They're the ones being partisan.
So, by Sinclair's definition, we shouldn't list the people who have died in Iraq, because that undermines the war effot. The letter they sent to McCain says that they think that Nightline is being journalistically (not even a word) disingenuous by only presenting one side of the argument. They insist that to have a balanced discussion, you should also list the positives that have come about due to the Iraq invasion.
I've got one: Saddam Hussein isn't in power anymore.
1 vs. 772. Anybody else?
Posted by: colin at May 4, 2004 03:38 PMIt's the same skewed logic that they used during the ramp-up to the war over a year ago: if you're not supporting the war, you're not supporting the troops. If you're opposed to the war, shouldn't it follow that you're opposed to putting troops in harm's way, and therefore have their best interests in mind?
Apparently, we're not allowed to honor the dead unless we're also in Bush's corner. Only he and his cronies reserve the exclusive right to grieve, and they haven't been doing much of that lately.
Posted by: Shippy at May 4, 2004 04:06 PMThe whole topic is laden with traps to make anyone look wrong. It's like saying that being pro-choice is being anti-baby. And heightened emotions just make it more rediculous. There's no good way for journalists to give out the shocking stuff without looking liberal and anti-war. Blecch.
In fact, the whole thing has me so disgusted, it's hard not to become apathetic. No end in sight, and no way to stop it...
Posted by: at May 4, 2004 07:17 PMas someone who is both pro-choice and anti-baby, i think the daily show said it best last night:
"jon, the facts are biased."
Posted by: lw at May 4, 2004 08:02 PMI don't know. The fact that the people who didn't have pictures were represented by flag-covered coffins....
Can be interpreted to be both anti & pro war.
I understand the whole cost thing though. WE're not paying shit. We want our cheap gas and our consumer goods and goddammit if this war is going to incovenience us at all. Let's go shopping!
Posted by: colin at May 5, 2004 11:14 AM*smacking lips* consuuuuuume!
It bothers me that milk and whatnot is subsidised to keep the masses happy. The oxymoronic world of "free trade."