Posted on 09/27/2005 6:41:10 AM PDT by Pyro7480
Yesterday, the Express, a free newspaper printed by the Washington Post, printed a photograph of Charlotte and Doug Smette of Makoti, ND, whose son Keith died serving his country in Iraq on their front page (this photograph can be viewed here). They were attending the rally for military families on the National Mall on Sunday, co-sponsored by the DC Chapter of Free Republic.
Today, the Express printed three letters-to-the-editor, all written by leftists who were expressing their outrage that the photograph was even published (the pdf file of today's edition can be viewed at this link; it's on page 36). Here are the letters.
In-Your-Face Propaganda
With everything that happened this past weekend (Rita, anti-war protest, President's Cup, etc.), Express' front page picture Monday was of a crying mother of the pro-war gathering that attracted only a few hundred. I was disgusted by this blatant display of pro-war propaganda.
-Alex Sittig, Washington, DC
You Know You're "Right"
Thanks for giving me a good retort to complaints of my right-leaning friends and coworkers that the Post and Express are lefty publications. Reading the Express on Monday, I found a full story and a cover photo covering the pro-war rally, but no coverage at all of the anti-war and anti-globalization protests.
-Gregory Wahl, Washington, DC
Work the Numbers
Is the Headline "Hundreds Rally to Support Troops" that much more newsworthy than "Hundreds of Thousands March for Peace"?
-Tanya Spann Roche, Beltsville, MD
DC Chapter ping!
Update ping!
Can we print the photograph here?
Charlotte and Doug Smette from Makoti, N.D., whose son Keith, a National Guardsman (seen in photograph), was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, comfort each other during a rally in support of the war in Iraq on the National Mall Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005 in Washington. Military families and others defending the war in Iraq claimed on Sunday their turn to demonstrate on the National Mall, a response to the massive protest against the war a day earlier. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
It's always entertaining to see leftists throw a tantrum when somebody disagrees with them.
These tools are obviously suffering from Attention Deficit Syndrome.
Characterized by whining when not receiving as much attention as they'd prefer.
"Hundreds of thousands march for peace."
Dear, dear lefty friends, we've told you hundreds of billions of times:
stop exaggerating.
"Thanks for giving me a good retort to complaints of my right-leaning friends and coworkers that the Post and Express are lefty publications."
And that would be the reason they did it, Greg
Sadly, this has very little to do with one side or the other. It's just the MSM following their cardinal rule: If it bleeds, it leads.
Had violence broken out at the "peace" march, that would be the headline.
God bless all the gold star families and the families of those still serving.
I seriously doubt it though if this Pro Freedom mother will capitalize on her sons death for her own self aggrandizement.
Unlike the anti-war propaganda that is perpetually underwritten by the Stalinist ANSWER.
Their real complaint is that the grieving parents pictured are vastly more attractive than sindee and their pain is palpable.
This is the sad, pathetic, angry, hateful and impotent remains of the sixties counterculture trying to recapture their lost and wasted youth and to force their political beliefs (i.e. Socialism/Communism) on the rest of us once again. At this point, their efforts are self-parodying, riddled with cliches, anachronisms and egotistical self-promotion (Cindy Sheehan) and I am beginning to get the feeling that most people in this country are beginning to see that.
Agreed...the "pro-war" label is disgusting. We are not "pro-war", we are "pro-freedom", and as you say, "pro-stability" for the ME.
I watched some of the rally on C-Span and did not get the impression that the people there were "pro-war", as the MSM terms it. Rather, they are "pro-America", supporting the goals of our Administration and military. I believe none of the speakers who have lost a son or daughter in the war that was started by muslims in 1979 are "pro-war". In fact, they very likely are anti-war, but they know that their son or daughter volunteered and died for their country and its freedom. The use of the term "pro-war" by the MSM to describe the rally and its participants is vile propaganda. Plus, I saw some of the so-called "peace rally" that the MSM said attracted 100,000 people. That number is clearly a vast exaggeration, put forth by the MSM to inflate the importance of the affair. Another in a long line of lies and misrepresentations the MSM puts forth.
I wonder if these Leftists complaining about the "pro-war" media can name one pro-war military parent who has received 1/1000th the publicity of anti-war military parent Cindy Sheehan.
Charlotte and Doug Smette from Makoti, N.D., whose son Keith, a National Guardsman, was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, comfort each other during a massive patriot rally in support of the war for freedom in Iraq on the National Mall Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005 in Washington. Military families and others defending the war in Iraq claimed on Sunday their turn to demonstrate on the National Mall, a response to the puny little extreme left wingers led by Shehan who protested against the USA and for the terrorista day earlier.
I don't know anything about the express, but the "antiwar" rally I saw pieces of the MSM would be fools to cover if they are truly biased.
It was the biggest collection of angry crazies, anti-semites, and just plain loopy types with their drums and puppets I've seen in a while.
Even on DU they were complaining. There were even some clueless DU'ers who were wondering what all those hate Israel people were doing at their antiwar rally!
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