Every day, we hear the same old news that isn't just news, but also a topic used to spark debate and, in some cases, merely to allow people to tend to the growth of their egos as they pride themselves on angering those they cannot see on the other side of the computer screen: Global warming, celebrity scandals, yadda yadda yadda. It gets old, and it gets annoying.

But then there is the news that isn't so old. By now, I'm certain everybody here has heard of an American Soldier gone berserk in Afghanistan as he proceeded to kill 16 Afghani civilians, 9 of whom were children. I am not here to defend him, for I also believe his actions were unneeded and destructive. If I could, I would give him a piece of my mind and even a black eye despite the fact he is...was...three ranks above me.

But the media failed to present a story that would make an even worse impression upon the military. Instead, they presented the story that would allow the anti-military folk out there to add fuel to the fire to their "We hate the military!" rants.

Did you know that earlier this week, a Chief Warrant Officer 2 who had just returned from deployment in Afghanistan, CWO2 Ed Cantrell, who for 18 years had been a Green Beret (Special Forces), and his wife escaped their burning home. CWO2 Cantrell quickly wrapped a blanket around himself and ran back into the burning home to rescue their two children, a six year old and four year old, who were still in their second story bedrooms. Nobody came back out of the house. Firefighters found the bodies in the remains of the house once the fire was extinguished.

While this isn't good news, neither does it include the killing of Afghan civilians, which the media seems to enjoy as much as the anti-military folk do. It doesn't pertain to Lindsay Lohan dying her hair pink or purple or red or whatever the heck color she dyed it. It refers to, simply, a Soldier father trying to protect his children.

Why was this not shown on the news? Was it because the media feared the Americans who despise the military might start to see the military isn't so evil? Is it because the news didn't have to do with foreign citizens dying? Or is it because they just didn't view it as newsworthy?

I'm going to give the media the benefit of the doubt and say I just wasn't around to see it on the television or read it in the newspaper.

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37054