Quote:
Originally posted by RM:
Originally posted by charlene:
i was quite surprised to see the latest u.s. soldiers deaths announced in an obscure little paragraph buried in the sarasota florida paper. i don't think there was anything on local tv so anyone who doesn't watch national news wouldnt know..if it's a local/florida person i'm sure there'd be coverage..
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Yep, that the way it works in these parts too. A local/regional casualty is front page news, while the rest are just a news item. It's disgraceful. Most States have a dual-status Military agency and I feel bad (and very sad)that so many of you have misunderstood this and consider it disgraceful:
http://www.das.state.ct.us/Digest/Di...Department.htm
This is the Military agency for the State where I live and you will find such in other States.
Our Governor is in charge of our State troops...not the White House. For fallen soldiers, she issues reports to our State's TV news stations and papers. We are provided with a daily flag status, to assure that our States' Soldiers are recognized and honored for their sacrifice. Our Governor has issued a Heros4hire initiative and other programs to assist our State Military Service members. Our State also has a Veteran's preference hiring status and dual Federal/State-funded programs and services to Veterans and their families.
Honoring our State and local heroes is a longtime tradition/protocal and I assure you that it is very respectful and deeply rooted. Our State militia is hardly a new thing.
In Canada, there is an active and strong Nationalist agenda. Ceremonies/services...such as the one in this post, serve to promote a National identity. With Canada's large spanse of provinces, etc., promoting a National identity is very crucial.
This is a post-nationalism phenomena and one that is found in many other countries. Nothing wrong with that at all for either of our Countries.
Censoring film footage of the WTC is not a bad thing! It is very traumatic to watch. Later generations may have a need to watch this, but showing this over and over again can trigger post-traumatic stress. Airing the footage of this tragic event for the purpose of shock value would be a cruel thing.
Instead, we have memorials and cermonies of remembrance.
I am so proud of a new Veteran's honor roll memorial in the town where my father, uncles, cousins (WWII) and Veterans of all conflicts/wars were enlisted and now can be readily remembered and honored for their service for our Country.
Our American Legions, VFW, etc., provide many services to active enlistees and veterans and their families. Their work is highly commendable!
Our Federal and State Memorial Day and Veteran's Day observances allow us to honor and remember our Veterans.
I know Veteran's and others who place US flags on every gravesite for Memorial Day.
As far as televising and newspaper reports of returning soldiers in our State...is done all the time! They are certainly treated as the heroes that they are!
I do read plenty of other State's fallen soldiers and those who have returned...whether in active duty or back to civilian life. No, this is not reported or televised nationally on a daily basis and it is far from being callous or anything of the sort to not do so.
I wish so many people would not criticize the USA so harshly and to do so with no regard to the many ways we honor our soldiers. And the reasons we have the protocal that we have. Just because it isn't identical to what Canada is doing...doesn't mean we're not doing enough or that it's not done properly.
And I do find I am personally offended...because I am the daughter of a DAV/POW WWII veteran. If not for my father's service and the many more, we may not be speaking so freely nor even be where we are at all!
My dad suffered battle fatigue and war-related postraumatic stress disorder. So I do understand the reason why we are not allowed to see the caskets. And this was at the request of US war Veteran's and not some political White House thing.
