Kate at SDA has just published a letter she received from a Canadian Forces Widow. The letter expresses better than I ever could the reasons why I loath the Canadian MSM. They are heartless, they are political, they are predators, and they are corrupt. They are self-centered whiners who operate from a position of incredible ignorance when it comes to military matters, and from a position of incredible predjudice based on their collective Socialist Utopian ideology. Democracy depends on a free press; but what we have is an arm of Socialist Utopian Elitism, which is hopelessly infected with group-think and collective ignorance. Ignore them!
Yesterday I received an email that I've received permission to share. I've edited the identifying details, as the writer would like to preserve her privacy;
Hi Kate,
I have enjoyed your blog since discovered it during the election. I trust if you share any of my email that you would keep me anonymous please. I am still having *issues* to say the least with regards to my husbands death.
[The investigation into the circumstances of his death during a training exercise] is still ongoing, at least I think it is. I have never EVER been officially updated on it. That said, the only thing that has been confirmed is there was no pilot error (important for me and my husbands memory to bring that up).
The reason I am emailing you is the issue of banning the media from the base when the soldiers' remains are returned to their families. While my husband was not overseas, I will share with you my personal experience with the media and a very public death.
Thankfully the media had yet to discover my house when I had to go see my husband for the first time. They found me by 6 AM the following morning. My parents had driven up immediately after my frantic phone call. My father stepped outside to get the papers and he was besieged (to say it lightly) with media camped out in my driveway! They were knocking at my door, putting the cameras on us as we opened it. There was always their cars there, with them sitting in them, waiting for someone to come or go. Phone call after phone call to the house when the lines were needed for more important issues. Our grief was made very public. I was asked if I wanted media at the funeral and I agreed to have them there. I wanted the people of Canada to know that even when Canada's sons and daughters do not go overseas, lives are put on the lone on a daily basis for the safety and security of every Canadian. To show them how the phrase "military cut backs' translates into real life in the forces. I had insisted that there not be a close up on any family member. I was sure Joe Blow watching the news did not need to see my tears, or those of my children to know we were distraught. Yet this rule was broken.
The media also pushed for the release of the names of those killed ASAP. Why?? Does it matter to Joe Blow? Shouldn't it matter more that ALL family (not just immediate) and close friends are informed personally even by phone than to hear it on the news? Families of victims killed in auto accidents can request that the names not be released and Joe Blow doesn't complain.
About the Peace tower and the flag flap, if anyone understand tradition it is a military member and his family. Did I expect the flag at the Peace tower to be flown at 1/2 mast for my husband?? oh hell no! But I did expect a phone call or something from our Prime Minister? Just the letter with his stamped signature would have to be good enough. He was in Europe and there is no way that letter was written there and sent to me to receive so quickly. It is also noticeable the signature is from a stamp and not hand signed. I did get a touching phone call and a lovely letter from the Governor General, HE Clarkson.
I will end this letter now. I could go on but I am sure you don't want to hear all the sordid details of how a military widow is really treated.
Except to add, that if I were to walk into funerals of people I didn't know stating it is my right to know who they are etc I'd be frowned on or even thrown out.
If you've never forwarded a post from SDA to family and friends before - consider doing it with this one. The media has been screaming for tranparency. Well, let's give it to them. Turn the "camera" back on the microphone holders for a change, and let ordinary Canadians see the mob for the self-absorbed ratings vultures that they are.