Jessica Lynch Due Home After Media Hype on Heroism (reality-TV propaganda drama)

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 7/22/03 | Deanna Wrenn

[ladtx]

Looks like it's hers for a day. Wish I would have had a Huey to take me home when I returned from Vietnam.

[laweeks]

"I guess you were asleep that week or so:"

I wasn't asleep that week, but I do know that there's been next to NO attention paid to these other POWs' welfare, and nothing anywhere near as intensive as this young lady's situation. I agree with some of the freepers that this is the result of our feminist-pandering media's attempt to find a GI Jane to hang their bonnets on. 'Me thinks the young lady would probably like to be left alone to lick her wounds and have the comfort of her family. Can you imagine what the media assault has done in that little WV town?

[Catspaw]

I agree with some of the freepers that this is the result of our feminist-pandering media's attempt to find a GI Jane to hang their bonnets on.

Is that Pfc. Lynch's fault? Did she ask for this publicity? Has she been running to the microphones screaming, PAY ATTENTION TO ME? How many interviews has she given?

[laweeks]

Has she been running to the microphones screaming, PAY "ATTENTION TO ME?"

Don't yell!

[flutters]

I'm so glad Jessica is finally going home. I wish I could be standing along the road, flying a flag, and welcoming her home along with everyone else in Palestine. Today is a happy day!

[IYAS9YAS]

Heard on the news this morning that she was the recipient of the P.O.W. medal, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. The P.O.W. and Purple Heart I can understand, but the Bronze Star? Not saying it's not deserved, but I'd sure like to hear some eye-witness accounts that she earned it.

[Catspaw]

She hasn't been screaming and yelling for publicity. If she has, I'd like to see news reports of her interviews.

However, plenty of people have used Pfc. Lynch for their own agendas, both the feminists and those who don't want women in the military. I wish they'd all shut up and leave her alone.

[Miss Marple]

Well, has she been running to the microphones asking for attention? Where is her interview? Answer: she hasn't given one.

I have only seen her family on television a couple of times, and then they were very humble and did not try to grab glory.

What I have seen is the media manufacturing one story after another, attributed to "unnamed sources" and doing their best to focus all the attention on her. I think questions about that should be directed to the media, rather than the military or Private Lynch and her family.

[skeeter]

"Why did the information in that first story, which was wrong in its most compelling aspects, remain unchallenged for so long?" Getler asked.

Could it possibly be because the "information" fit so nicely with the gender-neutral agenda of the Washington Post???

[dead]

Where is her interview?

If I recall correctly, I think she gave an interview to Jason Blair on the porch of her house overlooking the tobacco fields.

[poet]

"It was? I've never heard this from any media source"

It was on foxnews and other stations. Hey, you want a hero?
How about that young LT. who had the presence of mind to have his men point their guns toward the ground so as to re-assure that mob that he had no intention of damaging their mosque? How about the Sgt. who stayed on the back of the truck firing on the advancing enemy in order for those under his command to get to safety?

Oops, pardon me, they are males and are only worthy of a brief mention.

Enjoy the new definition of a "hero".

[Miss Marple]

You apparently don't pay close attention to Fox News. The report was on the critics ACCUSING the military of "staging" the raid, which the Defense Department vehemently denied.

Of course, if you wish to believe the anti-military faction, I can't stop you.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Why is this young lady's name virtually the ONLY name that most Americans have heard regarding the POWs? I clearly remember that there were other POWs, weren't there? And where was their TV coverage? Are the guys who rescued her heroes? What are their names? Is this madness or what?

Maddness? Madness is risking dozens of special forces units and millions of dollars of equipment (helicopters, hardware, etc) to rescue one person who was in no danger. Would they have gone through all that trouble for a man?

[Catspaw]

It was on foxnews and other stations.

Prove the rescue was staged. Provide a link or links.

[Miss Marple]

The policy of our military is that no person be left behind. If it had been a man, they would have done the same thing.

[laweeks]

"Maddness? Madness is risking dozens of special forces units and millions of dollars of equipment (helicopters, hardware, etc) to rescue one person who was in no danger. Would they have gone through all that trouble for a man?"

Well, they DIDN'T go thru all that trouble for the men. Too bad this is a topic of discussion. The young lady shouldn't have been anywhere near combat anyway, then she got hurt and captured. Let's hope she holds up under this media assault.

[logician2u]

Wasn't it the Chesire cat who said "words mean what I want them to mean"?

No, that would be Humpty Dumpty.

But I get your point.

[Lunatic Fringe]

If it had been a man, and they heard he was being kept in a hospital, they would have waited until the hospital fell into our hands and then looked for him. They would not have have flown in special forces in the middle of the night to rescue him... certainly not some PFC!

This was a PR stunt from the very beginning. I'm not saying she is undeserving of her medals or even her recognition in the press.... but geez, this thing from the very beginning made think there was something rotten in Denmark.

[Catspaw]

Well, they DIDN'T go thru all that trouble for the men.

How were the remainder of the POWs rescued and transported back to the States? Did they walk out of Iraq on their own and book private transportation to the US?

[Catspaw]

If it had been a man, and they heard he was being kept in a hospital, they would have waited until the hospital fell into our hands and then looked for him. They would not have have flown in special forces in the middle of the night to rescue him... certainly not some PFC!

You may recall that in addition to Pfc. Lynch, they also recovered eleven bodies, most from her unit.