The Media Ban on Repatriation of Soldiers Killed in Action
I think these two stories from the CNews website show the crux of the problem. I'm not at all pleased that the opposition and the MSM (Mean-Spirited Media) have made such a tragic incident a 'wedge' issue.
Personally, I support the 80 year old tradition of lowering the flag only on Remembrance Day, but we do live in a democracy and we should revisit such traditions now and again. On the issue of the media being present at repatriation, I absolutely agree with not allowing them access. They can broadcast the coffins being loaded to come home, they can broadcast the funerals, they can even broadcast the actual event of the death of the soldier if they have footage, but this is an intensely personal event where the family will come face to face for the first time with their loved ones that are no longer able to hug and kiss them back when they come home. The media has a morbid obsession with death and despair, but please, show some decency and allow the families this little bit of privacy in a private experience that has already been made very public.
I think on this we should respect the soldiers wishes, after all, they are the ones who are making this ultimate of sacrifices.
Personally, I support the 80 year old tradition of lowering the flag only on Remembrance Day, but we do live in a democracy and we should revisit such traditions now and again. On the issue of the media being present at repatriation, I absolutely agree with not allowing them access. They can broadcast the coffins being loaded to come home, they can broadcast the funerals, they can even broadcast the actual event of the death of the soldier if they have footage, but this is an intensely personal event where the family will come face to face for the first time with their loved ones that are no longer able to hug and kiss them back when they come home. The media has a morbid obsession with death and despair, but please, show some decency and allow the families this little bit of privacy in a private experience that has already been made very public.
I think on this we should respect the soldiers wishes, after all, they are the ones who are making this ultimate of sacrifices.
posted by "Expert" Tom at 5:27 PM
6 Comments:
15 years in the military is a proud part of my career. I am absolutely sickened by the politicizing of these death. If they had wanted a discussion on protocol they could have done so during the "debate" before the issue became critical. They did not. They are playing politics of the worst kind. And using families in the process. Despicable, but probably just another "Liberal Value"
When Shelia Copps allowed the falg lowered for the act of Jihad by Gamil Gharbi who slaughtered 14 female students that offended Allah, and Carolyn Parrish allowed her Arab and Palestinian voters to lower our flag for Arafat , THAT was the sign that it had lost its meaning and became Political for the benefit of the Ruling Party in Ottawa.
BTW, where was all the outrage when Chretien didn't even go to NY until after he visited a Mosques to appease Muslim voters that Islam had nothing to do with 9/11 .
On Hear,Hear's comments he/she is absolutely right. The Opposition is
feeding the MSM. Watch this become front page news. Maybe tomorrow. But I want to say thx. HH. I didn't
know BG was behind this flag thing.
Which is why we have BT. Thx. Allan
Toronto, Ontario.
The MSM are using the repatriation of the soldiers to hammer Harper over the head for his communication strategy. That's it pure and simple. It's another gotcha and it is tiresome and disgusting. As said the service was covered in Kandahar, there was wall to wall coverage over the weekend and anybody who missed it must have had their TVs turned off. The MSM was able to propagandize all weekend to their heart's content. There was nothing hidden here. With the fallen soldiers coming home the media is insisting it is their right to be there so Canadians can grieve. Give me a break. It's all about the photo ops and being able to ask if the family still agrees with the mission. It is ghoulish and morbid. If the families want the funeral service for the loved ones covered on national television then they can do that. In the meantime lets recognize what the game the MSM is playing and that is to bend Harper to their wishes. I have a feeling they picked on the wrong guy an Mr. Harper will do what he thinks is best for the country and not the MSM who are a bunch of whiners.
The problem with the media covering the return of our war dead is plain to see on the cover of today's (APR 26) Toronto Sun.
The photo is of a woman and children at CFB Trenton, not of the flag drapped coffin, that made page three. Bottom line, no respect for the families.
A.Les
Thanks for the info on Bill Graham. I didn't know that either but trust your research enought to know that it must be true.
We need more Canadian Jedi.
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