Heroes

I just got done watching the craziest news story I've seen since the war in Iraq started. ABC led off tonight with their big revelation that the US military exaggerated (they used the word "lied") about the exploits of some soldiers as a propaganda tool to create heroes and deflect attention from Abu Ghraib.

What the hell?!? Is this even newsworthy?

Ok, what if it's true? What if the military DID lie, destroy evidence, and make up heroic tales about American soldiers? The "news" story contained sound bites from various people (soldiers, relatives, etc.) who said this type of thing lessens the deeds of actual heroes. Um. No, that's the reporting of it and making it a big issue that does that.

People have always pumped up the truth where war heroes are concerned, from ancient times (The Odyssey, anyone?) to the Revolution, to the World Wars, to modern times. Notice how the currency of soldiers has gradually declined over the years (compare your perception of American soldiers in World War II to your perception of American soldiers in Vietnam or Iraq). Do your really think soldiers were just more heroic in the past?

No, obviously it's the way war and soldiers' activities have been reported. Reporters in the past have had respect for military professionals; modern reporters (I'm talking mainstream national reporters here) have absolutely no respect for American soldiers, sailors, and Marines and go out of their way to tear them down.