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
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
On the eve of Michael Jackson’s memorial, seven soldiers lost their lives
By Mary MacElveen
July 7, 2009
On the eve of Michael Jackson’s public memorial where it will cost the city of Los Angeles $2.5 million dollars for police security at taxpayer’s expense, I want to scream. I want to scream at the fans of Michael Jackson as well as the celebrities who will attend it. I want to bloody-scream at the media who will cover his public memorial. You may ask why I wish to scream and here is why. On the eve of this public memorial to Jackson, 7 troops died in Afghanistan and yet, no one knows their names. No one!!!!
These troops leave behind loved ones, yet again, no one knows their names. These troops did the heavy-lifting for all of us; yet the media chooses to give wall-to-wall coverage on Jackson. Wake up, media! Forget about the King of Pop and report on our brave soldiers who enter a world where they face our enemy day-in-and-day-out.
Prior to his death, Jackson was preparing for his concert tour as our soldiers hunkered down knowing they would face a certain death.
Those who died on the battle field, will not have anyone logging onto any website to take part in their memorial for a coveted spot. They will not have celebrities taking part in it like, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields, Usher and so many others.
To this, I say, shame on all of us for elevating celebrities, while forgetting our troops. Yes, we may remember them on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, yet choose to forget about them all the rest of the days of the year. They are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and our fellow Americans!
Our troops do not seek out doctors to prescribe them pain killers and other narcotics as some believe contributed to Jackson’s death. They enter into a battle field none of us would dare to enter and where their lives can and have been taken in an instant by a road-side bomb. Their bodies are not intact as Jackson’s was at his time of death, but blown apart with their innards coming out of their bodies. I have seen their pictures where their faces have been completely blown off and other injuries just as devastating. Upon seeing these photos, I have cried and cried.
I do not care what you think of the war, but there are soldiers who are ready, willing and able to go into a hellfire none of us would venture into. As I read this: "The seven American deaths came as thousands of U.S. Marines continued with their major offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province," the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
In war, I fully believe those who are called to fight in these wars act as if they are already dead in order to complete their missions. It was something I learned from watching the movie, "The Band of Brothers" which is one of my favorite movies.
I cry for our soldiers and their families and not for Michael Jackson. If that seems callous; well tough. I have followed these wars since they started and we have lost far too many brave soldiers, yet the focus is on one man some call an icon? Oh please, please help me understand this as I read where 7 soldiers lost their lives.
As the fans, celebrities and media focus in on his children, for many years, thousands of knocks have been knocked and where many children have learned that their mom or dad were not coming home. No one knows their names as the media has reported Michael Jackson’s children’s names. Children of military personnel do not stand a chance at inheriting millions of dollars and often are left with nothing.
The Reverend Al Sharpton has called for tomorrow to be a day of mourning for Michael Jackson. Me, I will call it a day of mourning for these seven soldiers who lost their lives. With that said, I will ask America: Where do your tears and sorrow belong?
Author’s email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
July 7, 2009
On the eve of Michael Jackson’s public memorial where it will cost the city of Los Angeles $2.5 million dollars for police security at taxpayer’s expense, I want to scream. I want to scream at the fans of Michael Jackson as well as the celebrities who will attend it. I want to bloody-scream at the media who will cover his public memorial. You may ask why I wish to scream and here is why. On the eve of this public memorial to Jackson, 7 troops died in Afghanistan and yet, no one knows their names. No one!!!!
These troops leave behind loved ones, yet again, no one knows their names. These troops did the heavy-lifting for all of us; yet the media chooses to give wall-to-wall coverage on Jackson. Wake up, media! Forget about the King of Pop and report on our brave soldiers who enter a world where they face our enemy day-in-and-day-out.
Prior to his death, Jackson was preparing for his concert tour as our soldiers hunkered down knowing they would face a certain death.
Those who died on the battle field, will not have anyone logging onto any website to take part in their memorial for a coveted spot. They will not have celebrities taking part in it like, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields, Usher and so many others.
To this, I say, shame on all of us for elevating celebrities, while forgetting our troops. Yes, we may remember them on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, yet choose to forget about them all the rest of the days of the year. They are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and our fellow Americans!
Our troops do not seek out doctors to prescribe them pain killers and other narcotics as some believe contributed to Jackson’s death. They enter into a battle field none of us would dare to enter and where their lives can and have been taken in an instant by a road-side bomb. Their bodies are not intact as Jackson’s was at his time of death, but blown apart with their innards coming out of their bodies. I have seen their pictures where their faces have been completely blown off and other injuries just as devastating. Upon seeing these photos, I have cried and cried.
I do not care what you think of the war, but there are soldiers who are ready, willing and able to go into a hellfire none of us would venture into. As I read this: "The seven American deaths came as thousands of U.S. Marines continued with their major offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province," the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
In war, I fully believe those who are called to fight in these wars act as if they are already dead in order to complete their missions. It was something I learned from watching the movie, "The Band of Brothers" which is one of my favorite movies.
I cry for our soldiers and their families and not for Michael Jackson. If that seems callous; well tough. I have followed these wars since they started and we have lost far too many brave soldiers, yet the focus is on one man some call an icon? Oh please, please help me understand this as I read where 7 soldiers lost their lives.
As the fans, celebrities and media focus in on his children, for many years, thousands of knocks have been knocked and where many children have learned that their mom or dad were not coming home. No one knows their names as the media has reported Michael Jackson’s children’s names. Children of military personnel do not stand a chance at inheriting millions of dollars and often are left with nothing.
The Reverend Al Sharpton has called for tomorrow to be a day of mourning for Michael Jackson. Me, I will call it a day of mourning for these seven soldiers who lost their lives. With that said, I will ask America: Where do your tears and sorrow belong?
Author’s email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Michael Jackson: The print medium becomes our personal memento
As I logged onto the Internet this morning to read the relevant stories on my Yahoo.com page, there were several articles pertaining to the death of Michael Jackson. In my opinion, he died far too young leaving behind many to grieve especially his family which includes three children.
His death is being felt world-wide where people from all corners of this planet are coming out to grieve and say goodbye to the ‘King of Pop’. Many did not know him, yet felt connected to Jackson who grew up in front of millions and became an icon.
This out pouring of grief is truly a phenomenon as are other historic events that have taken place within our lifetimes. While we may not know the subject, often we want some thing to keep for generations to come. It helps us to say to future generations: “I know where I was when the death of Michael Jackson occurred” and be able to hold up a memento.
These mementos are newspapers and magazines. Over time, the Internet has pushed many newspapers out of business which I find truly sad. This intangible world cannot be saved to help future generations understand an important story or one of historical relevance such as the election of President Barack Obama; the first African-American president, unless one has a printer.
Still, a printer cannot compare to the print medium. This ethereal world known as the Internet while reporting on key stories; one may not be able to find them in the future. How many times have you gone back to read an article pertaining to an event only to read: “File not found” or where a web site is no longer in existence? I know personally since my former blog marymacelveen.com is no longer online.
But your newspapers and magazines are the premier force of information since they are tangible and where people can save the front covers of them. While yellowed over time, I still have a few Newsday covers as they reported on the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton. Somehow, I thought it important to save. It is history.
In looking over the photos attached to Jackson’s death, I noticed several where fans from India were holding up newspapers. India is not a rich country and one where poverty reigns. While a child in that country may not have access to a computer, they do have access to a newspapers. In purchasing that newspaper, they will forever have their own personal memento to remember Michael Jackson. Also, newspapers and magazines as I have reported in the past are far more democratic where they are available to everyone.
If you are poor, no matter which country you reside in, the Internet may not be accessible to you since the cost of computers, software, ISP subscriptions come with a hefty price. Also, one must remember it takes electricity to power one’s computer. Should one’s power be lost due to any circumstance, so goes one’s connection to the Internet. What happens if one’s server goes down or becomes overloaded as Twitter.com often does? Newspapers and magazines are a frugal way of obtaining information. It may not be up-to-the-minute or second news, but it is still news which costs a fraction of one’s connection to the Internet.
As we keep hearing of job-losses in this country, all I ask is that you help save the jobs of those who work for the print medium by purchasing a newspaper. If you were a fan of Michael Jackson, in your hands you have your own memento to save throughout the ages. Those who work for the print medium go to work day-after-day so you can have your own piece of history to show future generations.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
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