Today, I mourn the death of Lt. Brian Bradshaw

By Mary MacElveen
July 7, 2009

In reaction to my piece citing that 7 soldiers died in Afghanistan prior to the Jackson memorial and the media’s coverage of his death, I received some feedback from my readers. One stated that he (Jackson) deserves millions of dollars being shelled out for police security since he paid he paid millions in taxes. That one still boggles my mind given the fact there have been many social programs cut, workers being laid off, IOUs as paychecks and homelessness within the city of Los Angeles and the state of California. By the way, the State of California is suffering a $24 billion dollar deficit. That directly affects those living in the City of Los Angeles.

L.A. simply cannot afford this protection which will cost the city $2.5 million dollars when they are a half a billion dollars in debt. But, the memorial will go on.

One reader stated for me to show some respect and I have, but I question where America’s priorities are when it comes to elevating a celebrity over those who serve our country.

A reader cited that Jackson gave to many charities and that is true, but our soldiers give their life for this country. As Jackson will be buried in a gold-plated coffin, our soldiers come home in flag-draped ones with little fan-fare. What if any celebrities choose to go to their memorial services?

If you think I am not the only one raising this valid point comparing the coverage of Jackson’s death over our soldiers, you would be wrong.

Someone sent me a link to a story as published on Fox: Relatives of Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Decry Lack of Coverage Amid Jackson Spectacle and these relatives would be correct. In watching a repeat of “AC 360” last night, Anderson Cooper while speaking of Jackson’s death, gave only two minutes in reporting of these fallen soldiers. Why, Anderson?

As reported by Fox: "Lt. Brian Bradshaw, 24, died in Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle." In reaction to his death and the coverage of Jackson by the media, his aunt, Martha Gillis wrote the Washington Post asking: "Where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers who died that week?" Bravo, Ms. Gillis!

Fox also reported: "He (Lt. Brian Bradshaw) was one of at least 13 U.S. soldiers to die in Afghanistan since Jackson's death on June 25." Now we have a name of one of our fallen heroes.

Mary, who is the mother of Lt. Bradshaw added that the constant coverage of Jackson's death was: "totally ridiculous" She also added: "I can watch the news many nights and there's no mention of what's going on in Afghanistan or Iraq and there's boys dying over there," War is simply hell and perhaps if there were wall-to-wall coverage of the death and destruction over in Iraq and Afghanistan the American people would strongly react by telling our government we have had enough. After all, these wars are costing the American taxpayers dearly if one chooses to focus on the money-angle over the death-count. We have spent $1 trillion dollars to be specific.

The only media coverage, Bradshaw received as reported by Fox was in: "Steilacoom, Wash., and those where he was stationed before his deployment in March."

While I do not know the rest of the names of these now dead soldiers, I do know of one and his name was Lt. Brian Bradshaw and today, I mourn his death. In his life prior to his military service he was a “search-and-rescue volunteer, an altar boy, a camp counselor," According to his aunt.

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net

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