Posted on 07/28/2005 12:23:29 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
I am very skeptical of shows that portray the military, from way back with the series Call to Glory, Tour of Duty, M*A*S*H China Beach, JAG and my personal favorite Band of Brothers. I always look at the shows through the eyes of a person who has been around the military. When I was younger I did not take much action, but, now when I see something portrayed as fact and instead is fiction I voice my concerns.
I have always felt of my republican party as those with independent minds. That we have the same core beliefs but that we do not follow other's blindly, but more often I notice that not to happen.
There were folks who saw this show, and decided to put a bad note in folks minds. Those who already detest Hollywood, various actors or the like use their bully pulpit to sway the thoughts of those WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE SHOW AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS TO DECIDE IF IN FACT IT SHOULD NOT BE WATCHED. Then to take action if it is a bad show buy avoiding the show, boycotting the products during the show, actions that should be taken based on one's personal assessment of the show.
So, just to put myself on the line here folks, I was a wife of a soldier during the first Gulf war, it was hell. Ft Campbell, a wonderful town became a ghost town. Wives while most are very loving and do not cheat, some cannot help themselves but many honored their loved ones. Some who squander the pay of their beloved and just destroying the life of the soldier once they return. As folks returned during the first war, the suicide rate was staggering with returning GIs, those that could not cope, those that found their spouse with another and those who just shot themselves. WAR IS HELL. None of that get's published nationally.
I had shared many of my beloved's (Dave) letter's and he never HID anything of the dirt, the heat, the frustration, lack of showers, having a beer or the fatigue. The amazing Iraqi children, the loss of the driver/medic returning to camp, being hit with a bullet and killing him. That the few moments to have the chance to get mail were the highlight of the day. BTW, Ft Sill was no different from the first Gulf War. Same issues with spouses and finances.
I know service member's who DID not want to go to Iraq. You all know my thoughts on the subject from previous threads so I will leave it at that, not all in the military are pro war but some choose to handle their thoughts much better than others.
War is graphic, I imagine many Freeper's can attest to that and I can only repeat from my first hand friends.
Now I am not a big wig writer, whom has a following like all the folks that wrote about a show before it was shown nationally so I suppose you can discount my thoughts but come on, I am as close as one can get to a first hand account and frankly it was well written and has potential. I have to wonder, would my thoughts only matter if it were in a nationally syndicated paper/online publication? Even so I would not offer until after said reader's can watch it themselves so they can make an informed decision.
I cannot say how future episodes will fair but will certainly let them know if I have issues of how they portray the war. Frankly as I have said, I am not sure folks want to watch show about the war while we are at war.
So, skip the thread, ask me anything but please know in the end, if this can remind American's that we have wonderful men and women serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, than I pretty much say OORAH and ask that you send care packages to the troops.
Jumping off my rant.
Dave (No Longer Free State) was unable to watch it, the hotel he was at did not have that network, so he will watch it with me when he returns from this trip and can equally off his observations for discussion.
I look forward to your thoughts, I have also DVRed it for my beloved and as I said will share his thoughts after his return.
The remarks in blue come from a Vietnam Vet, who decided to watch the program after reading the various "previews" prior to airing and I found his thoughts refreshing. Especially his final statement WAR IS HELL and by God we should be everything we can do for troops over there.
I agree with you completely. ;)
I read the posts prior to airing and thought to myself there sure are many alpha dogs out today giving advice. LOL!
Let everyone think for themselves if "Over There" deserves an audience. I think it does.
I always thought JAG was a half way decent show...even with all the technical mistakes. I believe it was on the right side.
That said, on another thread, I said I would like to see a critique of the show by Iraq war veterans. I had one response, but I couldn't tell if it was from a combat vet.
Too bad.
OK, I know this is tacky..but after I almost tossed my cookies over that scene, I wondered if it were possible for the legs to keep going. Somebody please tell me that was Hollywood!
"So with that in mind I look forward to my fellow Freeper's observations on this show"
I admire your fair-mindedness. This kind of show is not my cup of tea and I won't watch it because I don't watch TV in general. However, I also noted with interest that thre was a lot of hostility to the show even though it hadn't aired. I think a lot of that was not so much because of the show content, which was an unknown, but because of the show's producer, which IS known.
Those remarks came from a friend, a Vietnam Vet. Those are his recollections. Perhaps I can get a clarification from him or ask that he respond to that observation.
I would have to say from my point of view as a former head of the Family Support Group (has been renamed many times) that the younger gals, those without kids perhaps fell to temptation. The other pitfall, the finances. The troops bring in a bit more money, sep pay, hazardous duty pay and it goes into the accounts. Many needed a great deal of assistance of using a checking account. It always amazed me of how many young couples to the military had the military member taking care of everything. In the end, it is the rear detachment and folks like myself that had to step in and help. I could share some frightening stories but they are not the norm but tragic nevertheless.
Thank you for your comments.
Thank you for your service and thank you for your comment.
Seems like every military show has a bit of pot use. Frankly it is not as common now just because of the consequences and I am not sure how available it is in Iraq. Had not thought much about that and will ask beloved if he knows when he calls.
I appreciate your open mind. It also makes such difference to openly discuss this program and if there is something that should be addressed we can certainly make a grass roots effort to get our point across.
There are many that will watch this show, think it all truth and frankly there are artistic liberties taken in almost every program. But we can keep them on the right path should we choose to want to take on that task.
I have always enjoyed your comments and this is no different, thank you.
I appreciate that you will keep an open mind, and I hope will return with your thoughts on the show after you view it.
I am with you, Band of Brothers is an excellent series. I actually bought the whole series for beloved along with a DVD player because I knew he would love it. Now I have picked up personal DVD player and he will take this along on his next trip and share with the troops while there. He could use his military laptop but frankly it should not be used for anything other than military stuff so the personal player seemed a small cost to bring enjoyment to my beloved and his fellow troops.
Peach, I know you to be a woman of character and if given the opportunity with time avaiable you might watch it and I know will do so with an open mind. You are one fair chick.
Thanks for the comment and of course enjoy your visiting family, friend.
As I read your comments, and they are indeed excellent remarks it gave me pause.
I am not sure, if given the chance I would try and produce a show such as this. I say that because, WAR IS HELL. There are SOP (standard operating procedures) but sometimes SNAFUS (will not translate that one) and it would be hard to really convey that in a drama series.
Having said that, I agree I thought it to be balanced. Of course I wonder, how will next weeks offering be? While I am a tough critic will the audience return for the story or the character's or both.
I have to say about the beer, I do not recall Dave having beer while he was there, did not ask him. But, boy did he look svelte after he returned not having the enjoyable beer as he watches his beloved Orioles.
The only consideration should be whether it's positive or negative toward President Bush's effort in Iraq. If it's positive, it should be applauded. If not, it should be condemned.
I will provide you with one once my beloved returns from his current TDY.
As for JAG, I concur with your thoughts. It was a long running show, frankly one of the longest running shows depicting the military. When the show was getting it's footing Ollie North through his expertise to the show behind the scenes and sometimes in front of the camera.
Might be interesting to read his comments if he watched the program.
Such a classy comment, thank you. I agree, I think many of ill will towards Bochco, my beloved being one of them. But, he too, was willing to watch and offer his thoughts of course it will be a few weeks he is away with his Army job.
The content is rough. FX frankly has really gone to the edge of graphic in all their shows. The Shield is not my cop of tea. I enjoy Leary and have high regard for firefighters but Rescue Me is equally a tough watch. So, I had no doubt the one thing this show would do, show the graphic side of war, to the edge.
dope-smoking trooper (dumb),
Sgt. constantly berating his squad for no reason (dumb),
single infantry squad left alone with no armor/APC support against a building full of Islamos (dumb),
officer ordering troopers to advance 25m for no apparent reason (other than it being an order) even if it exposes them (dumb),
weak female trooper too tired to dig her own fox hole despite being exposed near the "mosque" where Islamos were shooting at them earlier (dumb),
female and male trooper start loudly arguing about digging a foxhole thereby exposing their position to the nearby Islamos (dumb).
DUMB
Agree.
Would appreciate hearing from, and believe we would all defer to, any 3rd Infantry Iraq vets, but my Hollyweird BS needle was in the red.
At least there were no singing nurses or smart-a** surgeons.
As to the rest of the show. Not bad. Worth watching so far.
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