Posted on 09/06/2007 2:14:15 PM PDT by Grig
...It was after Stephen Harper was sworn in as Prime Minister that the media began trying to turn Afghanistan into another Iraq. With the prediction of increased casualties coming true, the media demanded to be allowed to film the repatriation of fallen soldiers, an event more likely to produce images provoking grief and hopelessness than the patriotic ramp ceremonies they filmed when the coffin was sent home. They criticized the government for not lowering the flag on Parliament Hill even though that was not part of flag protocol or historical practice; they attempted to turn the handing of prisoners over to Afghan authorities into Abu Ghraib.
Likewise, demanding a commitment to not extend the mission is a mirror of American Democrats pushing for a firm withdrawal date from Iraq.
The demand itself makes little sense in practical terms....
(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...
ping
If you read how the left in Canada (and elsewhere) talk about Afghanistan, it sounds the same way the Dems talk about Iraq here. There’s a set template/meme, they just change the name of the war.
Governmentism is nothing but criticism and second guessing of those who actually do things. And criticism of valor is the natural way for the mere talker to promote himself above the valiant. It seems ironic on its face that those who promote government and denigrate individual initiative would denigrate the sine qua non of a government, its military. But the reality is that the critic of the military is promoting himself by tearing down someone who is "actually in the arena" doing real and - to the self-promoting critic - dangerously heroic things.There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is great and lofty, whether in achievement or in that noble effort which, even if it fails, comes to second achievement. A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticise work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life's realities - all these are marks, not as the possessor would fain to think, of superiority but of weakness. They mark the men unfit to bear their part painfully in the stern strife of living, who seek, in the affection of contempt for the achievements of others, to hide from others and from themselves in their own weakness. The rôle is easy; there is none easier, save only the rôle of the man who sneers alike at both criticism and performance.It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds . . . Theodore Roosevelt
“A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticise work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life’s realities”
Geez, that’s gotta be half the posters here. :)
Not just here.
;-)
Great quote. Thanks.
Welcome to FR.
The families generally did not want the press to film their grief nor to ask them vacuous questions about how they felt about the soldier's death.
The press still has the opportunity to film the tarmac ceremonies at Kandahar and to show them on their evening newscasts. With few exceptions, the press has abstained.
The press also has ample opportunities to film the civilians, firefighters and constables who line all the overpasses over the highway between Trenton and the coronor's office in Toronto to show respect as the hearses pass by. With few exceptions, the press has abstained.
The Kandahar tarmac ceremonies are an honouring of the fallen soldiers by soldiers from NATO countries and the AFghan National Army.
The crowds on the overpasses are spontaneous demonstrations of respect.
Neither of the above is a media opportunity for the press to film and exploit grief. That is the difference.
“A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticise work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life’s realities”Geez, that’s gotta be half the posters here. :)
Including you?
>> Geez, that’s gotta be half the posters here. :)
> Including you?
Of course not, I’m perfect. :)
>> Geez, that’s gotta be half the posters here. :)
> Including you?
Of course not, I’m perfect. :)
Except for the double-posting thingy...
Agreed, and once Iraq is done, we will.
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