Comments on: It's All About Perspective

By: SethIsRoot

SethIsRoot — Fri, 03 Dec 2004 15:23:00 +0000

Hey, I just found your blog via BE and felt I had to comment. I am a soldier in Iraq and I can relate to the story. The media’s coverage of the war makes soldiers and marines second guess their instincts. 99.9% of the time you can tell when someone is up to no good. For example, a few weeks ago a man with a shaved head (Iraqis don’t usually shave their heads unless they plan to blow themseleves up) he was driving alone and the shocks on his vehicle were screaming in pain, a sure sign it was packed with explosives. We were passing this car on the convoy and 2 gunners did not fire at this car. The 3rd guy did realize and opened fire causing the car to crash into a palm tree. Turns out the car was packed with explosives in the doors and trunk. We talked about it after and the first 2 gunners who did nothing said they thought it was strange but were afraid to fire and and find out that he was innocent and them getting 30 years. I don’t like the job I have to do, but I have to do it and I don’t want someone with a camera telling me how I should do my job. This is a war and people die in wars. On both sides. Just live with it. Oh yeah check out my blog too. I just had to give myself a plug . Later.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 03:19:00 +0000

I agree with Len and you. I think that the reporter was doing his job, but my concern is the media and liberal feeding frenzy that happened shortly after. As I been arguing with all those who would damn the Marine is that:The Constitution needs to be applied to those that would defend it.Thanks for linking to me, I appreciate it.Yours,Kev

By: Len Kutchma

Len Kutchma — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 22:11:00 +0000

That is the point I tried to make as well. I don’t begrudge the journalist for doing his job. But the way it was handled left the impression of wrongdoing on the Marine’s part. What is missing from that report is context.To use an analogy, language is much more than a series of words strung together to form sentences. There is emphasis, inflection, subjectiveness, perspective, context. I can make a declaration which may be true in every way but say it in such a way as to illicit a particular response. Did I speak the truth? Yes, but obviously there is more to it than that.