Excerpted out of ignorance, so hold the flamethrowers please.
Here's the link to the USA Today article in question...http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-01-24/police-training-combative-veterans/52794974/1
The blogger does a pretty good job of dissecting this narrative, but USA Today should also hear from the veterans about perpetuating a stereotype.
“Excerpted out of ignorance, so hold the flamethrowers please.”
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Bookmarking this excuse for the Blog Pimp Buster.
Question: if you knew going into this thread it was excerpted in ignorance, then does that mean you will post the ENTIRE blog in reply?
Thanks.
Blogpimps R us.
As I understand it, only about 5-10% of veterans saw combat. The rest performed back-office duties.
On 1970s TV, the psycho was always a Vietnam vet, always, on 60 minutes, Dateline type shows, the same.
Have you noticed that the 10,000,000 Vietnam era vets never showed up as sitcom Dads or as Grand Pa? WWII, Korea, those were, and are, just fine, for dad, or grandfather.
Everybody Loves Raymond could have Granddaddy sharing a fox hole in Korea, but sitcom families have never had lovable, cuddly, Vietnam vet grand fathers and dads.
USA Today, as a “newspaper” is excellent as fish wrap - Just like the NYT, WaPo and a bunch of others. All are best used as garbagecan filler.
I am a vet with PTSD. I, and the majority of my fellow vets who have been diagnosed with PTSD have NEVER been involved in a domestic dispute with our spouse; have NEVER robbed a store, bank, or individual; have NEVER committed murder outside of war (and ONLY within the limits of what the rules of engagement allow!), but we are treated like this by the DBM.
And people wonder why we are angry and have PTSD!!
If this makes you as angry as it makes me, CANCEL your newspaper subscriptions and stop watching local and network news!! It only encourages them and puts more money in their pockets to keep pushing their uber-liberal agenda!!
There might be some problems with the blog in relation to the USA Today article, but I think the concept is solid. The government and the media consider veterans potential domestic terrorists. One need only consult the Homeland Security publication the Obama Administration had to withdraw. The withdrawal was prompted by veteran groups getting attention for an implication that all vets were potentially a latter day Timothy McVeigh.
Political obfuscation accompanied withdrawal, and no verbal or written statement rejected the document in detail. I maintain this mythology has become part of the culture of the left. The excruciating title is Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, and here is the link.
This country has come full circle since Vietnam. I was popularly regarded as a deranged, drug addicted, baby killing, fascist, pig. It seems the truth was presented in a History Channel show that the helo pilots reference. Here is the link to that.
Statistics about the Vietnam War (scroll down and hit words beside History Channel logo)
http://www.vhfcn.org/
Now my son who became a Marine rifleman holds popular distinction as a despondent, mentally challenged, chemically dependent, cold blooded, killer. And if you find that characterization inaccurate consult, John Kerry, Jack Murtha, and the VA answering machine.