Whitney Who?
This conversation is in response to this facebook photo. If the link does not work, it's a photo of caskets with flags draped over them in a cemetery lined with small crosses. Underneath it reads: "Whitney Who?: When Celebs get more credit than Real Heroes."
A friend posted this which disturbed me, so I thought I would say something. Here is the resulting conversation. Why can't this happen more often?:
Me: Houston - The woman who entertained millions in the late 80s and early 90s. A human being whose death probably shouldn't be used as propaganda for military elitism. We're all people, no matter what we do with our lives. Yes, some people's jobs make it easier to meet an early demise, but that's still no reason to suggest there should be an established hierarchy, especially after death. How disrespectful.
Me: Would you really like a daily roll call to remind us just how much of a warring nation we actually are? I have a feeling those in charge haven't made one for a reason.
JL: It's more a comment on media priorities and how everyone seems to have forgotten that there is still fighting... actual on the ground calling in airstrikes and kicking in doors fighting, going on in Afghanistan.
And what I'd like is acknowledgement for all our wounded vets that they did a good job in a bad situation.
Me: Who wants to be reminded that there's fighting? There's enough to worry about at home. I'm not saying I don't think these people's lives are worth any less than hers, but I have a feeling people don't want to be reminded of the constant fighting that's been going on since I've been alive.
And to think that being a soldier is a thankless job...? I don't think any other job receives more praise and acknowledgement. What other job gets federal days off in honor of them?
JL: You make it sound like it's an inconvenience that we still have people on the ground. Who wants to be reminded? Are you being facetious? Are you playing devil's advocate here? Just because there is a lot to be concerned about doesn't mean we push aside inconvenient truths. Maybe the fact that it can and has been pushed aside in our national attention span is part of the reason we've allowed it to continue this long?
And I'm not saying that they are worth more either, but there are a lot more casualties (wounded and KIA in layman's terms) from Iraq and Afghanistan then there are dead celebrities who had a bad run in with medication. I'll be honest, I don't see how it's wrong to advocate for my own brothers, which you seem to be implying.
From where we stand... too much of the praise rings hollow. Maybe there is too much of it and people don't seem as sincere. I think I've mentioned this before(?). The human element is lost and people just seem mechanical about it. Americans from our perspective are just too detached from what we as a group have experienced and what the real cost of all this fighting is. If they can see the wounded, if they can see the dead, if they can hear the stories and for a moment understand what must be given to accomplish the mission set before us ... then maybe we will start thinking twice.
And now I'm waxing poetic and diving into larger themes.
Me: "Maybe the fact that it can and has been pushed aside in our national attention span is part of the reason we've allowed it to continue this long?" YESSSS. My point.
It's perfectly fine to advocate for your coworkers, but to do it at the expense of another person is tacky and disrespectful. Preach SUPPORT OUR TROOPS all you want otherwise.
And I agree with that last part. Where there's no more draft, no one needs to care anymore unless they or their close friends/relatives decide they need to serve their country for whatever reason pushing them to do it.
However, I think the military is an industrial complex that is too much of a money-maker so getting those heartfelt images other than on those couple days a year, I don't think is really going to happen. Getting people in touch with real life on the ground is not going to sway voters to keep the process of divide-and-conquer going.
Me: *divide-and-conquer-and-profit
JL: Fair enough. It seems we've come to a mutual agreement.
JL: You know what? It's nice to have an actual discussion on the internet. I feel like my DVD drive should pop out a cookie.
Me: I was about to say. Thanks for having a civil conversation when I know it's something near and dear to you.
Me: Fully.
A friend posted this which disturbed me, so I thought I would say something. Here is the resulting conversation. Why can't this happen more often?:
Me: Houston - The woman who entertained millions in the late 80s and early 90s. A human being whose death probably shouldn't be used as propaganda for military elitism. We're all people, no matter what we do with our lives. Yes, some people's jobs make it easier to meet an early demise, but that's still no reason to suggest there should be an established hierarchy, especially after death. How disrespectful.
Me: Would you really like a daily roll call to remind us just how much of a warring nation we actually are? I have a feeling those in charge haven't made one for a reason.
JL: It's more a comment on media priorities and how everyone seems to have forgotten that there is still fighting... actual on the ground calling in airstrikes and kicking in doors fighting, going on in Afghanistan.
And what I'd like is acknowledgement for all our wounded vets that they did a good job in a bad situation.
Me: Who wants to be reminded that there's fighting? There's enough to worry about at home. I'm not saying I don't think these people's lives are worth any less than hers, but I have a feeling people don't want to be reminded of the constant fighting that's been going on since I've been alive.
And to think that being a soldier is a thankless job...? I don't think any other job receives more praise and acknowledgement. What other job gets federal days off in honor of them?
JL: You make it sound like it's an inconvenience that we still have people on the ground. Who wants to be reminded? Are you being facetious? Are you playing devil's advocate here? Just because there is a lot to be concerned about doesn't mean we push aside inconvenient truths. Maybe the fact that it can and has been pushed aside in our national attention span is part of the reason we've allowed it to continue this long?
And I'm not saying that they are worth more either, but there are a lot more casualties (wounded and KIA in layman's terms) from Iraq and Afghanistan then there are dead celebrities who had a bad run in with medication. I'll be honest, I don't see how it's wrong to advocate for my own brothers, which you seem to be implying.
From where we stand... too much of the praise rings hollow. Maybe there is too much of it and people don't seem as sincere. I think I've mentioned this before(?). The human element is lost and people just seem mechanical about it. Americans from our perspective are just too detached from what we as a group have experienced and what the real cost of all this fighting is. If they can see the wounded, if they can see the dead, if they can hear the stories and for a moment understand what must be given to accomplish the mission set before us ... then maybe we will start thinking twice.
And now I'm waxing poetic and diving into larger themes.
Me: "Maybe the fact that it can and has been pushed aside in our national attention span is part of the reason we've allowed it to continue this long?" YESSSS. My point.
It's perfectly fine to advocate for your coworkers, but to do it at the expense of another person is tacky and disrespectful. Preach SUPPORT OUR TROOPS all you want otherwise.
And I agree with that last part. Where there's no more draft, no one needs to care anymore unless they or their close friends/relatives decide they need to serve their country for whatever reason pushing them to do it.
However, I think the military is an industrial complex that is too much of a money-maker so getting those heartfelt images other than on those couple days a year, I don't think is really going to happen. Getting people in touch with real life on the ground is not going to sway voters to keep the process of divide-and-conquer going.
Me: *divide-and-conquer-and-profit
JL: Fair enough. It seems we've come to a mutual agreement.
JL: You know what? It's nice to have an actual discussion on the internet. I feel like my DVD drive should pop out a cookie.
Me: I was about to say. Thanks for having a civil conversation when I know it's something near and dear to you.
Me: Fully.
Labels: courtesy, dead, death, military, respect, Whitney Houston
