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March 30, 2003
Crossing the line?
While watching Fox News, I saw a soldier in the field, in front of a helicopter. He was holding up a mini-clipboard with a picture of his daughter. In addition to giving the prerequisite "Hi Mom, Hi Wife, Hi Daughter!" he said he loves Fox News. Is it right for soldiers to give promos for the news networks? Is Al-Jazeerah showing bumpers, teases, and promos using the Feyadeen tossing V-signs at the cameraman, dedicating the next executed soldier back to their favorite news network Al-Jazeerah? And who will get a job with them first... Phil Donahue or Connie Chung? I hate to admit it, but Oliver Comments
I don't see it so much as doing a promo for Fox News but rather thanking them for getting a chance to say hello to their loved ones. It wasn't like the guy or any of the other soldiers they show were on MSNBC plugging for Fox News. Posted by: Lisa at March 30, 2003 04:09 PM"I'm going to Baghdad!" Was he paid to say this, or was it just his personal opinion? If Fox makes this video into a commercial, then that's a problem. Posted by: Lonewacko at March 30, 2003 04:27 PMI'm going to go the other way and say that I think it's abhorrent. Although my wife had written a post about this a few days ago, I didn't believe that any network would stoop this low. What's next? "Tell my wife and daughter I love them and not to worry, and remember, Like a good neighbor, State Farm is There!"? Posted by: Matthew at March 30, 2003 04:33 PMYeah, Fox isn't like Al Jazeera at all. Nope. Move along, nothing to see here... Posted by: Oliver at March 30, 2003 06:51 PMSure, the occasional soldier using the reporters' presence to send his love home (while thanking those who made it possible on the air) is equivalent with dedicating killings. Or with trying to incite the arab viewers, much as the Jenin 56 killed (mostly combatants) were presented as thousands of slaughtered civilians. I don't think so. Posted by: Amos at March 30, 2003 11:20 PMIf a soldier wants to say hi to his family or mention a TV station who cares? He his putting his life on the line while we are here in comfort.Wake up its no big deal Posted by: AJ at March 30, 2003 11:41 PMWhat are the alternatives? Go watch NBC, CNN, ABC, or XYZ. Talk about abhorrent. Little Katie Couric, Peter Arnett, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings. You guys are getting REAL pissy. Sheeesh! Posted by: DavidB at March 31, 2003 08:59 AMI'll go out on a limb here, but I think that this was intended as sarcasm. Or is it simply inconceivable that a soldier might, on his own, without threats of violence or having his family taken hostage, actually like Fox News? Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at April 1, 2003 11:37 AMYeah, it's inconceivable. Some kind of plot, or he likes Bill O'Reilly in an unnatural way. Posted by: Dave Buster at April 1, 2003 03:53 PMAlternatives: You can get the Beeb at http://news.bbc.co.uk/ , they have streaming media feeds you can listen to or, in some cases, watch. They are not perfect but seem to be fairer and more impartial than the American media, which is all "rah rah our boys are defeating the evil Saddam in Iraq!" type cheerleading. While I'm as patriotic as anybody, I get tired of all those perky airheads waving flags in my face. Posted by: Eric at April 2, 2003 06:02 PMPost a comment
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