I have never been in the military, and I was wondering how soldiers feel they are portrayed by the media. Do you feel that you are being positively or negatively portrayed? Or maybe a combination of both? How do you feel about the media's coverage of the Iraqi conflict?

What "media" are you you talking about?? Movies have pretty much done all they can to show the average soldier as being some kind of Psycho since the Viet Nam Era. Blood sells, so news agencies don't spend much time showing soldiers helping old ladies or school kids across the street. They'd rather have a few bodies strewn here and there... . And if there is any way they can throw in some controversy, such as civilians getting killed in the cross fire, they surly will do it.

It's all about MONEY, and sensationalism sells, not pictures of GIs giving kids chewing gum...

Problem is, GIs hand out a lot of their own food, and do everything they can to befriend people and help them - but forget seeing that on the news or in a movie any time soon....

GREYWOLF - You are so right. The MSM never shows the accomplishments of our great soldiers. They only want to give a body count. The msm should show the body counts everyday here in USA.
Our educational system doesn't help either.

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ilikeoreos23

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Originally posted by OldArmyWOPA:

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ilikeoreos23

WOW...Great catch. I will watch for that for now on. Thank you.

You gotta give me a break, I'm a college student taking a class about the American Soldier and I need feedback from veterans so I can write a research paper. I don't really have the time to create a profile so I'm sorry if that scares or alarms you in some way.

-1- Your posting belongs on the forum that was designed school surveys.
-2- If you want us to take time to answer your question it would be goo if you introduced yourself.
-3- It’s been a long time since anyone implied that I was a coward scares or alarms you in some way.

Find your local library. Go to your area VA, but don't come in here and ask for help and then turn around and be a SA.

quote:

Originally posted by greywolfghost:
What "media" are you you talking about?? Movies have pretty much done all they can to show the average soldier as being some kind of Psycho since the Viet Nam Era. Blood sells, so news agencies don't spend much time showing soldiers helping old ladies or school kids across the street. They'd rather have a few bodies strewn here and there... . And if there is any way they can throw in some controversy, such as civilians getting killed in the cross fire, they surly will do it.

It's all about MONEY, and sensationalism sells, not pictures of GIs giving kids chewing gum...

Problem is, GIs hand out a lot of their own food, and do everything they can to befriend people and help them - but forget seeing that on the news or in a movie any time soon....

You can count on the liberal media to leave out facts or distort the truth!

Well most of the online newspapers the articles have Emails to the authors. I use those a lot to ask questions or question facts in the articles. Amazing how many respond. I've actually had some take my ideas and seen them appear in print which is cool.

So the point here is I do not believe in the "liberal" media beyond using the term as a talking point concerning bias. Yes there is some bias in Major Newspapers and the reporters will tell you that in so many words.

Believe it or not most reporters are like you and me and will explain what happened if you ask politely and are not a jerk. More Veterans and Service Members should do this, IMO. I think it helps bridge the gap between reader and reporter.

quote:

Originally posted by ilikeoreos23:
You gotta give me a break, I'm a college student taking a class about the American Soldier and I need feedback from veterans so I can write a research paper. I don't really have the time to create a profile so I'm sorry if that scares or alarms you in some way.

To be honest, I've got to say that college professors seem to be giving the military more of a bad rap than any of the media.

Don

Bump!

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Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:

quote:

Originally posted by ilikeoreos23:
You gotta give me a break, I'm a college student taking a class about the American Soldier and I need feedback from veterans so I can write a research paper. I don't really have the time to create a profile so I'm sorry if that scares or alarms you in some way.

To be honest, I've got to say that college professors seem to be giving the military more of a bad rap than any of the media.

Don

I guess that wasn't the response he was looking for.

Don

Actually I am quite aware that most college professors are extremely liberal and anti-war and this tends to happen because they are around idealistic college students all day every day. But what I really want to know is how veterans feel about the anti-war movement and how it affects them.

VietnamVetsagainstJohnMcCain.com are against the war.Vetforfreedom.com support our troops and their mission. These 2 groups should give you enough info on both sides.

Well, I am not a vet so I can't speak for them but I am a civilian and college student and American that has been traveling abroad so I can give you that point of view..

I think at the moment of 9/11 anyone would have cheered on the military to do what ever it took to get the bad guys. They basically just wanted heads to roll be it media , student, government etc


The trouble is we did not get in and get out fast enough and we never got Osama.

So, like every ugly politian and party they jumped on that to get one over on Bush and push their agenda for the next election which we just had and it worked because they won.

Only the media could not do what it did to the military in Vietnam because that will never happen again to our troops.

You can go after a party or government and that will pass but no way can you take it out on our troops. That did not work, just ask Rosie.

This time the media and Dems played it like they were against Bush to help our troops that were being used by his administration . blah blah blah

Fox is too big now for the news or cable to go after our military so that is why Hollywood came out to do it for the left.

I have never seen so many movies about war and Bush and govenment mess ups as I have before this election.

Point is that war is not pretty and even when you are on the right side like we are it is just hard to not want to have our men and women come home or be safe while in another country.

I tell you when I heard that the new Iraq government went on vacation because it was too hot I went crazyyyyyyy

The thought that my military would be in that same heat to fight for their freedom and they have the nerve to go on vacation because of the heat! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

That type of thing did not fly well back at home and the people let Bush know it too. That is when Bush told the Iraq people to get in with us and do their part.

If my military wants to stay then I support them.

You can't know what goes on in the mind of a warrior. They are there doing their job and we have to support them and most of all give them the tools to get it done.

quote:

Originally posted by ilikeoreos23:
Actually I am quite aware that most college professors are extremely liberal and anti-war and this tends to happen because they are around idealistic college students all day every day. But what I really want to know is how veterans feel about the anti-war movement and how it affects them.

I take the "anti-war" movement in two ways.

1) many simply want our military men and women out of harm's way and that I can appreciate.

2) others are the disgusting pigs who picket outside military bases spitting on military members and calling them moronic things like "baby killers". Those are the anti-war types I would have to walk away from to keep from strangling them.

I never served in a war zone but I have the highest respect for those who are and have done. These are the men and women who have to go fight a war that leaders in suits and air conditioned offices started. These military members keep us all safe including those POS protesters who spit on them.

As far as the media...I have written numerous complaints to CNN, FOX and MSNBC on their lack of coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan. Sure, they'll report when things are going bad but when things improve, we don't hear a word. By the way, I never got one response from any of the networks...go figure.

Don
Proud father of a US Marine

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Military and the Media

A marriage made in heaven, right??

Here is my .02.
The MSM could care less about the troops, oh I know, they have sound bites, adn throw out platitudes, but usually, that is to make them feel better about themselves, then to actually support the troops.
As far as portrayal of the troops. Hollyweird, usually does a half-assed job, although there are some movies out there that have been brilliant. Saving Pvt Ryan, BlackHawk Down, We Were Soldiers, to name a few.
War protesters **** me off, not because they disagree, it's teh way they go about it. Their argument is usually flawed and incorrect, but would never actually go to a vet to find out what the facts are. But, if a vet is against the war, then they use him and his opinions like all military either think that way, or should.
Most liberals I have been around, think of us as knuckle -draggers and uneducated. Case in point John Kerry's brilliant speech a year or so ago, about getting an education. Todays military has a hihger intelligence level than teh public by far.
I see I am rambling a bit, but follow the advice of an earlier poster, and get out and actually talk to vets, you will fins we are like anyone else, we have differing opinions on a myriad of subjects. Kudos to you for actually coming here an dtrying to find out somethign from those of us who have BTDT.
Good luck

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Originally posted by billdawg24:
Kudos to you for actually coming here an dtrying to find out somethign from those of us who have BTDT.
Good luck

Though I personally cringe every time I hear the word "Kudos", I agree. Credit to the OP for coming to here, taking some flak, and trying to get info from those who know.

Don