What’s the purpose of these journalists anyway?
To the editor:
I have to admit I was puzzled by the Pentagon’s decision to embed hundreds of American journalists within the Iraq invasion force with promises of minimal interference, especially given the devastation enterprising reporters wrought on the military’s spin of its despicable actions during the war in Vietnam. The latest proposal seemed an unusual gesture of inclusion after the circumscription of journalists at central command during George the First’s Gulf War. It is all the more surprising given the disdain with which the current administration treats reporters, as if a free press is an unnecessary imposition not a Constitutional provision. Nevertheless, reporters have leapt at the chance to report the military’s movement first hand, in the process forgetting their higher obligation to the American public.
I now understand the Pentagon’s plan as a supreme example of the Bush administration’s demonstrated savvy at manipulating the media to its own ends. In Gulf War the Sequel it is already apparent that the media has been annexed as the unofficial propaganda wing of a war-mongering American administration. Reporters and network talking heads have uncritically and unconsciously adopted the zero-sum logic, us vs. them framing, and military terminology supplied by the U.S. government. Witness how quickly the phrase “shock and awe” entered the Fourth Estate’s vocabulary. Ask how often you’ve seen leaders of the grassroots anti-war movement featured on television compared to the overwhelming presence of ex-military/intelligence figures and representatives from conservative Washington think-tanks like the Heritage Foundation. When have you heard or seen reports of Iraqi dead or wounded in the American media as are being reported in the British and European press? How often has the media pounced, with heavy breathing, on every minute detail supporting the government’s claim that the Iraqis are our enemies? In response I have had to turn to foreign and alternative news sources such as the British Independent newspaper online, the Independent Media Center online and, yes, even al Jazeera. There’s no such thing as unbiased reporting, but these offer an antidote to the rah-rah patriotism and gee whiz mentality with which the American media has greeted the Pentagon’s death machines. More generally troubling has been repeated demands for the media to stop covering anti-war demonstrations. With a characteristic brilliance for silencing those they disagree with while claiming to be victims of a liberal media bias, conservatives seem to have forgotten the very freedoms alluded to by the spuriously named Operation Iraqi Freedom. Chief among these are freedom of speech and freedom of the press, which lately seem to be under serious threat at home.
Michael J. Murphy
University City
[email protected]
It’s time to grow up
To the editor:
In recent weeks, multiple students, as well as the Editorial Board, have written numerous articles protesting the war. While I have not agreed with most of the arguments in any of them, I have enjoyed reading other student opinions. As Americans, this is one of our most precious rights, the ability to express our own opinions.
Last Thursday, many of our students exercised this right to speak out in an anti-war rally. While I fully realize this is our right and is something we CAN do, it is not something we SHOULD do. At this critical time, we as students need to grow up and put the needs of our country in front of our own apparent needs. One of the reasons we are a free and strong nation today is because people before us did exactly this when necessary. It should be obvious to anyone that America is at war now and that we will accept nothing short of victory. Rallies will not change this fact. The only thing that can happen in these rallies around the country is diminishing troop moral. These men and women (including my cousin) are risking their lives in Iraq. They have families and friends who are worried about their safety and want nothing more than for them to return safely. My cousin has spent extended periods of time for many years away from his wife and two small children, as well as others close to him, to serve his country, and is currently on the USS Truman. The sacrifices these men and women are making to protect our nation make them heroes and they deserve to be treated as such.
Like it or not, war is sometimes a necessary evil. While you still might question if it is necessary in this instance, our most important concern now should be to come together as Americans to get through this event. As Joseph Lieberman announced yesterday, he is a Democrat, Bush is a Republican, but now they are both Americans and he is fully behind our president and our country. As Dennis Miller said, “Whether you are for military action or against it, our young men and women overseas are fighting for us to defend our right to speak out. We all need to support them without reservation.” I urge you to put your patriotism in front of your own concerns, grow up, and support our men and women. We will prevail and in short time, I will go back to enjoying reading your contrary opinions.
Michael Rowley
Chemistry and Finance
Class of 2004
[email protected]