NBC Again

NBC is making such a big deal about the age of this Israeli soldier who was captured by Palestinian forces. They are being so dramatic about the fact that he is nineteen. Most of the time they try to refer to him as a teenager. On other occasions they make a big deal of pointing that he is so young. My problem with this line of reporting is that I think the United States has lost young men and women in the Iraq war of that age and the media does not make a big deal about that. Also I am quite sure that young men and women of the age of 18 are being sent to Iraq. The fact that this Israeli soldier is nineteen is no big deal compared to what is going on with American young men and women in Iraq. This young man though still a teenager is a grown adult; he is not a child. That is why I earlier stated that NBC keeps pointing out that this soldier is a teenager. I think they are trying to get people to think of this soldier as a child or a minor not an adult.

I have no problem with the Israelis or the American military. I think the American military is really good. However, I have a problem with the media downplaying the dangers to the Americans in Iraq who are 18 and above and then overblowing the issue with this nineteen year old soldier. He is an adult. I am not sure the media has ever made this much of a big deal about American soldiers being kidnapped.

:sarcasm:

in light of the fact that we no longer care to honor anything in the Geneva Convention .

and

in light of the fact that we don't care about children still in the womb and infants and toddlers who are being slaughtered in Iraq (and other parts of the world).

It is ridiculous for NBC to concentrate on an Israeli soldier in this manner = a very selective issue to waive in our faces.

6 young men, aged 18 & 19.

169 since shock & awe (Americans)

we have lost 178 service members aged 18-19. What a shame.

Go to http://icasualties.org/oif/Details.aspx and use the filter <20.

Cpl. Peter Daniel Wagler, age 18, died January 23, 2006
Pvt. Michael E. Bouthot, age 19, died April 22, 2006
Pfc. Javier Jr Chavez, age 19, died February 9, 2006
Pfc. David N. Crombie, age 19, died June 7, 2006
Lance Cpl. Leon B. Deraps, age 19, died May 6, 2006
Pfc. Amy A. Duerksen, age 19, died March 11, 2006
Pfc. Christopher M. Eckhardt, age 19, died May 3, 2006
Pfc. Chase A. Edwards, age 19, died April 6, 2006
Pfc. Jeremy W. Ehle, age 19, died April 2, 2006
Lance Cpl. Michael L. Ford, age 19, died April 26, 2006
Lance Cpl. Jeriad Paul Jacobs, age 19, died January 7, 2006
Pvt. Jody W. Missildine, age 19, died April 8, 2006
Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., age 19, died May 5, 2006
Lance Cpl. Jonathan Kyle Price, age 19, died January 13, 2006
Pfc. Ryan G. Winslow, age 19, died April 15, 2006
Pfc. Angelo A. Zawaydeh, age 19, died March 15, 2006
Pvt. Travis C. Zimmerman, age 19, died April 22, 2006
Lance Cpl. Brent B. Zoucha, age 19, died June 9, 2006

When is this going to stop????

I just wrote an email letter to NBC's Today Show. In the letter I told them of my disappointment with the way they have been covering the abduction of the nineteen year old Iraesli soldier and the deaths of American soldiers that same age and younger. I have posted my letter here. I did not do in for applause or for approval. I just thought I would post what I wrote. You are welcome to comment on the letter whether you like the comments or do not like the comments.

"I am writing this email to inform you of my disappointment about the Today Show's coverage of the kidnapping of this nineteen year old Iraesli soldier. It upsets me that you made such a big deal about this soldier being kidnapped, that you made such an effort to point out his age, and that you were so dramatic about this soldier being kidnapped.

My problem with you reporting is that I contend there is a double standard. In the last three years that America has been engaged in the War in Iraq America has lost between 168-178 young men and women. Since May 1, 2006 6 young men and women of the ages 18 and 19 have died in Iraq. From the beginning of this year, which is only six months old 18 American young men and women of the ages 18 and 19 have died in Iraq. That averages out to about 2 per month. For some reason I did not see The Today show making as much of a big deal about these young men and women as you have about the Iraesli soldier. Although all these soldiers died fighting in an American uniform you did not even give these soldiers one day of coverage let alone two or more. For some reason you did not go to the houses of these fallen soldiers and ask their parents for their feeling about the lose of their son or daugther or about their feelings about the Iraq War the way you did with the Iraesli soldier's father.

What has happened to this Iraesli soldier though sad in nothing compared to what has happened to American young men and women of the ages of 18 and 19 since this war began. This email is not about stopping the war in Iraq. It is also not about hating Iraesli soldiers. It is about getting fairness for the American young men and women fighting in Iraq. If the deaths of American soldiers of the ages 18 and 19 is not important enough for you to report their ages and dramaticlly detail what happened to them then in my opinion the kidnapping of an Iraesli soldier, in that same age group, is not important enough for you to report. Please stop the double standard you have toward reporting the dangers faced by American soldiers aged 18 and 19 and the dangers faced by this current and other Iraesli soldiers of the age of 19."