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LA Times Writer: Joining Military Not 'A Well-Informed Choice,' But A 'Product of Manipulation'
NewsBusters.org ^ | 15 July 2007 | Dave Pierre

Posted on 07/15/2007 3:36:47 PM PDT by infoguy

The 21-year-old nephew of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez has enlisted in the Marines, and Lopez isn't happy about it. "Don't become a pawn, I told my nephew," Lopez writes. His column is, "When the reality of Iraq hits home" (Sun., 7/15/07).

Says Lopez:

Some have argued that without a draft, enlisting in this war is a matter of choice, so what happens, happens.

But that's not necessarily true in the case of National Guard troops who have been called up. And as for soldiers as young as my nephew, I don't see enlistment as a well-informed choice but as a product of manipulation.

Not a "well-informed choice"? A "product of manipulation"? At 21 years old? Am I the only one who think this sounds a tad condescending?

So, why did Lopez's nephew join the Marines? Lopez tells us that he has written from boot camp.

"What I want for my life is to stand above the majority," [the nephew] wrote. "I believe in honor, discipline and courage…. I wish to be bigger than myself, to be a part of something more — something important and significant…. I hope that you will understand my reasons for this decision and will continue to support me."

Lopez has a justified worry that his nephew will be deployed to Iraq. Nearly everyone can sympathize with that anxiety. But Lopez claims that President Bush "misled us from the beginning" and "will keep sacrificing lives in a vain and futile attempt to save face." Bush's campaign has been one of "deceit and simplification," says Steve.

"Misled us"? "Deceit"? Ugh. It seems Lopez has bought into the "Bush lied" canard. Being from Los Angeles, Lopez should be well aware of KABC radio host Larry Elder. Lopez needs to take Elder's "'Bush lied, People Died' Challenge." (Scroll down to the lower left of the home page.) It could be that the nephew knows more about the Iraq war than Lopez does.

+_+_+_+_+_+

(P.S. - After reading Lopez's column, I thought of this ... Back in 2005, Californians debated Proposition 73, an initiative that would require minor girls to acquire parental notification before getting an abortion. In an October 2005 column (I found it reprinted here), Lopez talked with a group of high school-aged girls, most of whom were against the initiative. One girl even insisted it was "nobody's business" (Lopez's words) if a 13 or 14 year old had an abortion by herself. Despite misinformation and relativism ruling the discussion, Lopez beamed at the end of the column that he had "much respect" for the girls. Lopez wrote that he hoped his own daughter "will be able to handle herself as responsibly as these girls have." It sounds like these teens have earned more respect from him than his own adult nephew.)


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: bias; iraq; latimes; liberalmedia; losangelestimes; mediabias; msm
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1 posted on 07/15/2007 3:36:50 PM PDT by infoguy
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To: infoguy

Now that I’m 42 I wish I had joined the military when I was 18 and I’m far wiser than I was when I was 18.


2 posted on 07/15/2007 3:38:25 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
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To: infoguy

I don’t see that dear uncle has much say in this man’s life.


3 posted on 07/15/2007 3:38:56 PM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: cripplecreek

I joined at 18...now 43...someday I’ll get a job....


4 posted on 07/15/2007 3:41:06 PM PDT by dakine
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To: cripplecreek

I know what you mean ...


5 posted on 07/15/2007 3:43:54 PM PDT by infoguy (www.frankenlies.com ... www.themediareport.com ...)
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To: dakine

I see guys that are my age and are retiring from the military. While they aren’t retiring rich, they are retiring with a check coming in and time to decide what to do with the rest of their lives.


6 posted on 07/15/2007 3:45:26 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
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To: cripplecreek

Same here - my biggest regret in life at the age of 50 is that I didn’t serve in the military.


7 posted on 07/15/2007 3:45:45 PM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Big dog, big dog, bow-wow-wow! We'll crush crime, now, now, now!)
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To: infoguy

Ah yes, the ill informed repporting of opinions wrongly formed on falseitudes, put forward as the gospel by the urinalists of the LA Slimes.

Yes I am holding back so I don’t get banned.


8 posted on 07/15/2007 3:47:19 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: infoguy

Our son is in delayed entry program. He goes to Chicago on Nov 4th.

He knows exactly what he is doing and it is a hell of alot more than giving up his job at $18 an hour and leaving a girlfriend behind hoping that she will feel the same when he gets out of bootcamp (Husband and I are secretely hoping she won’t).

This kid is no fool.


9 posted on 07/15/2007 3:48:28 PM PDT by submarinerswife (.)
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To: infoguy

Military: Joining LA Times not “informed choice” but “professional suicide.”


10 posted on 07/15/2007 3:48:55 PM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: infoguy

Being a liberal columnist for the LASlimes, is a stupid choice also.


11 posted on 07/15/2007 3:49:07 PM PDT by Wheee The People (Go FRed)
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To: infoguy

Writers-—get used to it—just because someone made a decision YOU may not agree with does NOT mean they have been manipulated or brain washed. God gave everyone free will.


12 posted on 07/15/2007 3:49:19 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys--Reagan and Bush)
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan

I did sign up for the draft when I was 18. My grandfather was a WWII vet who was proud to take me to do even that little bit.


13 posted on 07/15/2007 3:49:20 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
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To: infoguy
"What I want for my life is to stand above the majority," [the nephew] wrote. "I believe in honor, discipline and courage…. I wish to be bigger than myself, to be a part of something more — something important and significant…. I hope that you will understand my reasons for this decision and will continue to support me."

I don't know why, but I'm completely appalled that this wonderful sentiment from what appears to be a fine young man became fodder for his uncle's column. If I were his nephew, I'd have a hard time speaking to my uncle ever again. But I'm Sicilian so...

14 posted on 07/15/2007 3:50:48 PM PDT by tsmith130
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To: infoguy
Lopez has it exactly wrong. His nephew sounds like a class-A man who knows who he is, what he stands for, and what he wants to do with his life. It is Uncle Lopez who has chosen a career path based on "misinformation."

Lopez is a cr*p reporter for a cr*p newspaper who, based on his columns, got a cr*p education, and now has cr*p for brains. He has had garbage poured into his head for years. Now he has garbage coming out in his columns.

Did I miss anything?

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "Enforce Zina's Laws"

15 posted on 07/15/2007 3:52:57 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob (Please visit www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: infoguy

> And as for soldiers as young as my nephew, I don’t see enlistment as a well-informed choice but as a product of manipulation.

So speaks a War Wimp. He’ll need to hide behind his nephew, who clearly understands what needs to be done and why.


16 posted on 07/15/2007 3:53:29 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
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To: infoguy

Believing anything you read in the LA times is not “a well-informed choice but a product of manipulation.”


17 posted on 07/15/2007 3:54:33 PM PDT by joebuck
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To: infoguy
"What I want for my life is to stand above the majority," [the nephew] wrote. "I believe in honor, discipline and courage…

I'm not defending the LA Times, but someone should tell this kid that joining the military does not automatically make him better than everyone else, and he should not look down on the rest of us who made different career choices as dishonorable undisciplined cowards.

18 posted on 07/15/2007 3:56:10 PM PDT by Freedom_no_exceptions (No actual, intended, or imminent victim = no crime. No exceptions.)
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To: infoguy

I think Mr. Lopez’s newphew heard this speech, it’s about his uncle....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1865920/posts


19 posted on 07/15/2007 3:57:43 PM PDT by enough_idiocy (Just like against terrorism, in politics you can't be on the defensive all the time!!!!)
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To: cripplecreek

42 years,2 weeks and 2 days ago I met Ssgt Browne, and Sgt Bowser my two senior D.I.s at USMC Recruit Depot San Diego. It was a “life” changing experience that made me a better man for it. HOORAH MARINES, GET SOME.


20 posted on 07/15/2007 3:58:05 PM PDT by stumpy
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