In Imus Controversy, Stories Of Soldiers Forgotten
(AP)
Papadatos writes about a close friend, an active duty Army medic now in Iraq whose tour has just been extended for three months. "She got there in October of 2006 and was expecting to leave in October of '07," he writes. "Now she will be there until January of '08...unless she gets hurt before then."
Here's a little more information about Papadatos' friend:
She joined the Army with a high school diploma and no college. We left the Army's Combat Medic Course just under three years ago, and since then she has spent a year in Korea, a year and a half in Texas, and six months in Iraq. In those three years, she has earned an Associate's Degree, taking classes at night and on the weekends (and, in Iraq, online, in her spare time). She had planned to go to college - a REAL college - full-time starting in January of '08. Now she won't be back in time for the first semester of the year, so she'll have to wait for the summer or fall of '08. And - oh yes! - she enlisted, in the summer of 2003, for FOUR years, but the "Stop-Loss" policy keeps her in uniform until further notice.Continues Papadatos:
Now, keeping all of this in mind, somebody please tell me why a deejay with a reputation for irreverence calling a basketball player a "nappy-headed ho" should leave that woman "scarred for life" (which is a direct quote from one of the Rutgers basketball players, in Wednesday's newspapers). After that, somebody please tell me why I should care about it. And THEN somebody please tell me why that one incident, which caused no bleeding or dying, is getting more radio air time than the fact that MY little buddy - along with about 100,000 of her closest friends and colleagues - has just been told she has to spend three extra months in a combat zone.You can read more about Papadatos and other soldiers here.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! BRING THEM HOME NOW!
Let's get some perspective, here. Imus's remarks didn't kill or maim anybody. The extension of American soldiers' tours in Iraq WILL cause death and injury. Looking at it that way, which story deserves more attention and air-time?
- Greg Papadatos
PS: Just so you know - that picture isn't me.
So, CBS News, here's a story for you, Americans, and our soldiers. Something good.
Tomorrow, April 14th, a fund raiser is being held in Defuniak Springs, Florida. HELP A SOLDIER CHARITY POKER RUN. An Army Green Beret [Tim] is being deployed to Iraq, is qualified and approved by the Army to wear a better quality body armor than "standard issue." But here's the catch - it cost $5,800 - and he has to pay for it out of his own pocket. Why does this soldier want this armor so much? About two weeks before Tim's March 5 marriage, the man who was suppose to be his best man, was due to come home from Iraq but was killed by an IED. They think the fallen soldier may have survived if he had worn this better body armor, as it protects more body parts and is better quality material.
CBS News - Please get your cameras, writing paper/pens, and get on your motorcycles. Meet Tim and family and Americans who have committed to be there and help this soldier! Where: At THE OUTPOST in Freeport, Florida, 9:00 a.m., first bike out at 10:30 a.m. Let America see and hear about something good! Tim sincerely wants to come home from Iraq to his wife and children - all in one piece. Thank you.
As a vet of the SE Asia conflict, I understand your position, as well as your wonder about something such as this, causing so much controversy, when good people are being "shafted," into the extended tours, and all the inequities foisted upon those who choose to serve this great nation in uniform, and under the flag of our country.
However, take a look at the disrespectful attitudes that are displayed during our on-air discussions concerning persons running for public office. Research the defeat of former Senator Max Cleland (D-GA) for a prime example.
When will we as a nation, return to civility in conversation, as opposed to shrill, screaming tirades, geared to bring out the worst in people? Where does one go to regain one's reputation, once it has been besmirched by false propaganda?
Again, I understand your concern for the everyday issues and realities that come with the responsibility of being a member of our armed forces, but the point should be directed to reclaiming decent and respectable means of discussion, so that our sacrifices, mine in SE Asia, and yours in Iraq/Afghanistan, will lead to a better nation, of which we all will be proud of!!
God Bless
Excuse me but...journalist down!
Anything else?
$416,764,213,538
The management of these two wars has not been enough to win, but just enough to maintain an indefinite continuation of military conflict.
When will it stop?
It's also just as amazing to hear some blacks are more forgiving and feel he should not be fired from his job when some whites say he should.
I feel that when a person says something racist or make personal remarks that can harm others, on someone else expense, they should be fired. If they own their own syndication, we should boycott them and any company that support them.
However, we still have those out there that cannot except that the world is changing and that we must respect that "equality" is for all and not just for "one" race.
Imus apology for his remarks should be accepted but not forgotton and we must realize that we still have a long way to go and not give up the fight that equality is for ALL!
We should not boycott Obama and CBS because they did not write Imus script. I read somewhere or I heard from someone when mentioned that the white race owes the black race an apology for slavery, the white man stated, "Why should we have to apologize for something that our great-great-great grandparents did."
- by fortherecord22 April 13, 2007 2:03 PM EDT
- It infuriates me that Don Imus is Ostrizized, fired, and humiliated for a stupid disingenuous remark about Rutgers NCAA Players yet the advertisers Like CoCA Cola and others dont have clean hands either in Foriegn Markets.I remember Articles about murder at the hands of foriegn coca cola marketers for their brand of softdrinks in foriegn markets. It amazes me that CBS can take advertising dollars from such diabiolical people and keep a straight face firing Imus, Where is true morality in this country! Advertising dollars play up to race ,class,income level and a whole lot of false advertising just to get a product sold. Get real! The American Public is not that stupid.
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