Kicking the AP's Ass, plus KO

[Wetzelbill]

Ok, this is what I wrote on my blog in full.-Bill

This is what I wrote to the Associated Press about their use of jingoistic terms and warmongering rhetoric with regards to the protests in Crawford, TX, where our fearless Recreationist-In-Chief has promptly set the record for laziest president ever besting the formidably lazy Ronald Reagan by over three years. Well, everybody has to be good at something right?

Here is my e-mail to the AP, plus the attached article, I am referring to. Now, I should say this, the bottom line here is that spouting slogans and jingoistic talking points isn't being patriotic, it's being a sheep. Sheep are trained to follow and do what they are told. No questions asked. That isn't patriotic, that's being stupid. I will also attach an opinion piece written by Keith Olbermann of MSNBC for more info on lies and jingoism. Limbaugh runs away from Limbaugh (Keith Olbermann) http://www.bloggermann.com/

What matters here is that being "pro-war" doesn't mean you have the market cornered on patriotism. It just means like everybody else you are entitled to your opinion. Speaking up and out, in and of itself is pretty patriotic, be it support or dissent. But, blindly going forward in support of a folly is dangerous territory my friends. This isn't a George Orwell novel or 1930's Germany that we're living in. It's the United States of America. And, we have some serious issues going on, that require serious questions to be answered in a pretty serious fashion. So you can be a sheep or you can be a patriot. Which one are you? I don't know, I just report.

You decide.

Subject: About the words "anti-war" and "patriotic"

I object to the AP calling the pro-war group the showed up in Crawford "patriotic" and the Cindy Sheehan affiliated group simply "anti-war." It's a slap in the face of veterans and the parent's who have lost children in a war to make this dismissive, condescending correlation. The people who blindly support this President's folly, which according to polls are not the majority of this country, are not "patriotic." They're foolish, if anything.

So would you call Chuck Hagel "anti-war" because he has serious critiques of the Iraq war? Or Paul Hackett? For that matter would you suggest that Russ Feingold isn't patriotic because he voted his conscience in the run up to the Iraq War and speaks that conscience to this very day? I doubt it.

Would you call that lunatic who mowed down the crosses at Camp Casey a "patriot" because he is avidly pro-war and pro-Bush? I hope not.

If you're going to call that camp anything, just call them "pro-war" or "warmongers" because the term "patriotic" should be reserved for the people demonstrating on the other side of the issue in Crawford. Camp Casey is all about patriotism. That should be recognized.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap08-20-190030.asp?t=apnew&vts=82020051958#body

If you want to read more of my stuff here is the link:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/billwetzel/

[knowbody0]

1. wondered where you'd wandered

good read, thanks

[Wetzelbill]

2. glad you liked it

just getting back to school, so I've been busy the last few days etc. I'll still be around though. :)

[illbill]

3. Good report Bill

The way the media, especially nationally syndicated media, characterize people is important. You are right on the money.

[roseBudd]

4. Has anyone checked to see if Editor & Publisher has covered this? n/t