Media's War Images Delude Instead of Inform

[Briar]

Really this underlines what "The depraved heroes if 24 are the Himmlers of Hollywood" has to say about the way our popular culture glorifies war and the warrior:

Media's War Images Delude Instead of Inform
by Norman Solomon


...

One day, during the second week of November 2004, millions of Americans saw the photo. Blake Miller's face was grimy, but his eyes were clearly visible. He seemed resolute, unflappable. Wisps of smoke appeared to be rising from the long cigarette that dangled from his lips.

At the time, Marines were fighting their way into Fallujah, and American news outlets went gaga for the picture. At age 20, Miller suddenly became a famous archetype.

The day after the photo was snapped, "CBS Evening News" anchor Dan Rather told viewers: "The picture. Did you see it? The best war photograph of recent years is in many newspapers today, front page in some. Taken by Luis Sinco of the Los Angeles Times, it is this close-up of a U.S. Marine on the front lines of Fallujah. He is tired, dirty and bloodied, dragging on that cigarette, eyes narrowed and alert. Not with the thousand-yard stare of a dazed infantryman so familiar to all who have seen combat firsthand, up close. No. This is a warrior with his eyes on the far horizon, scanning for danger."

And the news anchor urged Americans to take the photo to heart: "See it, study it, absorb it, think about it. Then take a deep breath of pride."

...

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0109-20.htm


(How ironic that this photo was taken during the attack on Fallujah. Perhaps it helped inspire Hollywood's decision to make a movie glamorising that "heroic" assault.)