Freep This Poll - Jessica Lynch

Afro.Com ^

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Both Soshana Johnson and Jessica Lynch were injured and held as POW's in Iraq. Both were even honorably discharged; but Lynch will receive 80 percent of her diability benefit, while Soshana will receive only 30 percent. Why do you think?

two entirely different and justifiable circumstances
racism
other

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Racism is winning. No surprise.

[Prodigal Son]

Racism, 60%

Well, there you have it.

[TheCrusader]

Disability benefits are based on the severity of the injuries received while in the military. Does the injury/disability prevent you from being gainfully employed, and to what extent? I don't think race is a factor here at all.

[YourAdHere]

Exactly. Couldn't have said it better.

[wimpycat]

I think it's because Shoshanna Johnson's injuries were much less extensive than Lynch's. When she was released, when I saw that footage of her and her fellow POWs getting on the helicopter, she was walking...limping, but walking. Lynch's injuries were much more severe, and she was most definitely not ambulatory for quite awhile.

Now, as to the disproportionate amount of attention received, that's up for debate, and I'm not going to get into it. But I think the differences in their disability ratings were based on the severity of their injuries alone.

[wimpycat]

Well, Afro.com is well known for a balanced point of view, dontcha know.

[Agnes Heep]

Blatant racism, of course. The paper pushers took one look at the names and decided that Shoshana wasn't worthy. Besides, she could always become a welfare queen.

[mrtysmm]

Consider the source of the poll. How can you expect anything different than the "racism" card being played. Consider the fact that the Rev. Jesse Jackson..(Rush intonation please) is involved in this.

[YourAdHere]

Good point.

[mtbopfuyn]

FNC just said Jessica is in great pain, takes 18 pills a day, walks with crutches, and has no feeling in her foot. Anyone know the outcome of Soshana's injuries?

[alnick]

I clicked on "view comments."

Here's my favorite: "There is no doubt it is racism. Just look at the amount of money Mark McGwire received for his bat on auction versus the one for Barry Bonds for home runs."

Now, what McGwire has to do with anything is beyond me. And it's racism that McGwire's bat got higher bids than Bonds'. Sigh.

[YourAdHere]

Not nearly as bad.

[philosofy123]

One girl is black, and the other is white, therefore, no thinking should be involved, it is racism. I call that BS! Yes racism still exists, but it is in a very small number and it is under the surface. Not in your face by the US military. A small private company where the owner is the hiring boss may practice racism with little fear. But the US military, the organization that gave us Colin Powel? If any thing, reverse racism may be more today than racism. I speak from first hand experience, believe me.

We need to avoid the knee jerk dispensation of labels such as racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobic. These highly charged labels are overused in our society. To be charged is to be convicted. Having said so, I am still very unhappy with this Jessica Lynch fiasco. I think that girl disgraced herself by not meeting with the Iraqi guy that saved her life, after he had traveled all the way to her home town specifically to see her. She was busy publishing a book! What to heck an 18 years old high school grad is going to write? The Iraqi guy himself have already written a book, or had some American write it for him. But at least this Iraqi guy is a lawyer, and had a life experience under Saddam, and was motivated to save a life, at the risk of his own-all is good book material.

[ought-six]

Ms. Johnson had a broken ankle. That's it. Ms. Lynch had multiple injuries that required several surgeries and months of rehab, and she's still not healed. Included in her injuries was a spinal injury that could have left her paralyzed for life. The two situations cannot be compared.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for taking this poll
Both Soshana Johnson and Jessica Lynch were injured and held as POW's in Iraq. Both were even honorably discharged; but Lynch will receive 80 percent of her diability benefit, while Soshana will receive only 30 percent. Why do you think?
two entirely different and justifiable circumstances	84	(53.16%)
racism	64	(40.51%)
other	10	(6.33%)

[philosofy123]

People who do not have access to the rules and regulations that govern the military practice should not vote. This is not a beauty contest.

[StonyBurk]

Oh neither do I think racisim is a factor. However I do
believe that the poster girl Jessica--first female POW to
make the big screen and all that is clearly a factor.Having
allowed so much to be made of Jessica--even before the dust
had settled. The good ol'VA probably was afraid to give her
less.Those who serve silently -will be honored with silence.
They will be ignored. Racism?Not exactly--no more than we've seen from the Network TV talking heads-who used to be
white toast and pretty.But suddenly whites are no longer
welcome.

[HairOfTheDog]

People who do not have access to the rules and regulations that govern the military practice should not vote. This is not a beauty contest.

As a matter of fact.... it is. It is just a pointless website poll. They never should have put the question up. but once they did put the stupid poll up, we don't have to let them get the wrong answer.

[HairOfTheDog]

Racism?Not exactly--no more than we've seen from the Network TV talking heads-who used to be white toast and pretty.But suddenly whites are no longer welcome.

Umm.... look again. Putting up a few minorities is a long ways from "suddenly whites are no longer welcome". And some of them minorities are even attractive people! Imagine that.

[templar]

Reading the comments is interesting. It gives some insight into the nature of prejudice (on both sides of the scale). The question is: Is this insight of any practical value?