My Letter to Shepard Smith

4/10/03 | Dergie

[Dergie]

Hi, Shepard,

I understand your plea for the dead journalists. It was a very sincere, heartfelt plea and very much appreciated; however, I'm with those on the anti-journalists column, if you will.

I'll tell you why. Journalists have long ago departed from the concept of Freedom of the Press. Most of today's journalists aren't the ones included in our forefather's speeches. THESE JOURNALISTS AREN'T REPORTING THE WORLD; THEY'RE MOLDING THE WORLD.

I mean, look at what BBC did. They did their level best to ensure that the U.S. lost this war and got bogged down into another Vietnam War. So did Al Jazeera. They were clearly trying to use their influence to inflame people to go over there to fight.

Just think of all the people they killed -- needlessly, I might add.

CNN isn't as bad, but they jumped on the bandwagon.

No, these people lost their objectivity long ago, and they're political leaders without ever having been elected.

They're the most dangerous breed. They are wolves in sheep's clothing.

That's why no one mourns their loss.

But Fox has earned my undying loyalty. It's so refreshing to have a channel that isn't constantly trying to tell me what to think.

[vbmoneyspender]

I am still waiting for Shep to explain the difference to me between some reporter going into a home where thugs are holding a family hostage and then broadcasting their rantings and ravings live on TV and what the reporters in Baghdad did by broadcasting the rantings and ravings of a regime that was holding an entire country hostage.

[Support Free Republic]

A Strong Kick To The Finish! (Leave The Left Behind)
	Finish Strong. Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[WOSG]

With due respect, you sound petty. These journalists should be mourned as should any non-combatant casualty, as an unfortunate and sad incident. One of the Al jazeera journalists left behind a 2 year old son. that is a pity and a shame, irregardless of Al Jazeera's biased anti-american coverage.

[Bob J]

6pm PDT/9pm EDT UNSPUN with AnnaZ!
Join Anna and Special Guest Hostess Diotima

Tonight, THUR, Apr 10th, 2003 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PST
Aziz Al-Taee
Chairman of the Iraqi-American Council
www.IraqiAmericans.com

and the Unspun Debut of The Chamber-made Brigade's latest single
"Who's Next?"

ALSO... CRBs and Bone-Headed Lie-Beral Quotes ('cause you just can't make this stuff up...)

All this, plus your calls (and possibly more)
HERE to listen LIVE!

Call in! 1-868-RadioFR!

Click HERE for RadioFR Archives!

Click HERE for the RadioFR Chat Room!

[Enterprise]

Good letter!

[error99]

You're so vain, you probably think this reply is about you.
Is this a topic-less, keyword-less, vanity, or what?
Was there no where else to post this but to start your own thread?
Welcome to FR!
Dergie signed up 2003-04-05.

[nunya bidness]

Just for clarification: Shep's comments were in response to the letter he read which was in response to the story Shep read about David Bloom and Michael Kelly. And in that respect Shep's comments were dead on.

[Nagual]

It's sad to lose a life on that I agree.

Your analysis is right on. Remember how they protected the Clintons. "Character doesn't matter" and all the other crap the carry for the left.

Thank you Lord for Fox, Rush and all the rest of the good guys.

[In mourning for six years]

Good letter, and I agree with you about most journalists. What exactly did Shep say about dead journalitsts? I know that last evening he seemed very upset by a letter that he recieved from a viewer saying that the viewer did not feel sorry for the dead reporters. I was going to stay up and listen, but I was much too tired. Shep annoys me most times--he seems to be a whiney leftist.

[tiredoflurking]

No one mourns their loss? Funny but I've seen images of quite a few people mourning their loss.

While I acknowledge that it's frightening how powerful the media can be in shaping an entire country's point of view (just look at the Arabs), I still can't say that journalists were expendable human beings. I learned to respect them, especially the cameramen, on 9/11 when they risked life and limb to bring us the images that allowed us all to be witnesses to what the New Yorkers in the streets were going through. These images also shaped our point of view, and that's not always a bad thing.

Do you know these dead journalists well enough to know that they deserve to be painted with this broad brush? At least two of them had prior Fox News affiliations, one had been a producer there.

[arjay]

I don't know what Shep you are listening to, but the I listen to has been extremely supportive of Bush and the war.

Even though I have utter disdain for many reporters, I don't think it is apporpriate to rejoice in the deaths of those killed in this war.

[Finny]

Good letter.

Yesterday morning the news was on in the gym, to one of the Big Three newses (I forget which ... abc, nbc, cbs, they're all the same to me). It was during that first toppling of the giant Saddam statue. The idiot anchor pointed out several times that such huge monuments as statues and murals went back for "centuries" into the Middle Eastern cultures, as if to explain their presence in Iraq. No mention that egomaniacal dictators like Stalin and Mao also built such monuments to themselves. I was so disgusted by the lack of historical perspective that anchor provided. Worse, he and the gal (it was Diane Sawyer, now I remember) were commenting on the goings-on in a way that was very nearly condescending, as if to really say, "These quaint third-world people whacking away at the statue, how amusing!" Again, DISGUST on my end. In their smug commentary, Sawyer and whatshisname exhibited ZERO empathy, ZERO true compassion, ZERO recognition or respect for the dignity of those jubilant Iraqi citizens' heartfelt rejoicing in the destruction of a symbol of evil, suffering, death, and repression.

"Journalists" my A$$!!

[Dergie]

He let the e-mailers have it. He went off on them like Neil does to France. Then he started talking about the virtues of Freedom of the Press and how important they are to guard against government fed propaganda.

I like the idea of the embedded journalists, but most media and people have forgotten that there is a difference between journalists and columnists. They've blended the two.

And if the "elite" media is going to try to create ditto drones out of its viewing public, then it becomes all the more imperative that all the views be heard, that stations with other viewpoints be encouraged to grow.

I mean, isn't that the reason Clinton went after Microsoft? Because Libbers don't like monopolies? Unless, of course, they're the ones with the monopoly.

[In mourning for six years]

Hey, I did not say that I "rejoice" in the death of any one. Am I broken up over their deaths? No. Why should I say I am when I'm not? I worry more about our troops and not those who continuously critize them. BTW, I did say a prayer for Michael Kelly and David Bloom. Michael Kelly was one of the good guys and he will be missed.

The Shep Smith that I listen to comes across as a whining liberal regardless of whether he supports the war or not. Sean Hannity was the first to mention Shep's political leanings. You like Shep...fine, and I reserve the right to dislike him--sheesh!

[Dergie]

Don't worry about their opinions. They're just giving their opinions on what they think it said, not what it really said. They missed the whole point, obviously, in their rush to opine and be heard.

If they clearly read it and comprehended what was really said and then disagreed, then it would be worth the time to listen to their viewpoints and then to respond. Otherwise, it's not worth paying attention to.

[In mourning for six years]

Thanks, Dergie. I have very little respect for most journalists, but I do think that the embedded Fox reporters are doing a great job. I couldn't tell you what the others are doing because I don't watch them. I will miss Michael Kelly and I don't understand why he and David Bloom were over there. Both have young children and I think that their first responsibilities should have been to their children. I read yesterday that David Bloom was warned to seek medical attention for his leg, but he choose to ignore that advice. I don't get it.

[rwfromkansas]

callous

Not all the journalists who died are enemies of America. Sure, some, but not all.

[Dergie]

Reread post #1. Communication is a two-way street. Otherwise, it just becomes condescension.