Funny how one dead pregnant Marine can capture a nation----

[trumad]

but 3 dead soldiers on 1/10/08 barely raise an eyebrow.

[YOY]

1. But but but she was pretty and white!!!

(And involved in a harassment case lest I forget myself...)

[trumad]

I guess all the above does meet the MSM requirements.

I sat and ate lunch today at a local restaurant... It took about an hour---and I swear CNN had the story on the whole time I was there.

[Shakespeare]

11. I'm so fucking sick of that response on DU.

So the fuck what if she was white and pretty. She was also sexually assaulted by a superior officer, and then trashed, harassed and generally attacked for daring to come forward.

And this shit happens EVERY SINGLE GODDAMN DAY in our military, but everybody stays hush-hush about it, because we can't have any bad press about our precious soldiers.

Yeah, I'm pissed.

[trumad]

12. Truth hurts....

I think the point is... it only gets out when they're pretty and white.

[YOY]

16. Yes that what the point I was trying to make

Thanks Trumad...

[Shakespeare]

18. See my respone to Trumad.

It was a hideous thing to say, and it gets said around here a LOT. And I'm beyond tired of it.

[Shakespeare]

17. Bullshit. Snarky comments like that have nothing to do with the truth.

This (the rape) wouldn't have gotten out at all if she hadn't gone missing. The military wants to ignore this problem, and it's a BIG fucking problem.

[trumad]

19. You're not taking into consideration

all the top-line MSM stories that last couple of years that involve only white pretty women. I would say that's about 99.9 percent of the stories--- wouldn't you?

[Shakespeare]

21. OH, I most certainly am. I happen to disagree with you.

The handful--HANDFUL--of cases that get a lot of attention do so because the circumstances of the women's deaths are outrageous, unexpected, out of the norm--all things that make them newsworthy, no matter how much that happens to annoy you. The stories are compelling. And no, they're not even close to "99.9".

And they're not all white, either (Laci Peterson, whose case got perhaps the most attention in recent years, was hispanic).

And people on this site sneer and snark and dismiss the stories because they're "pretty and white" It's disgusting and insensitive.

[LostinVA]

30. Me too -- it should be deleted

[Shakespeare]

33. WHY anybody feels the need to belittle this woman's murder...

....in order to make a wholly separate point about the non-coverage of soldiers' deaths is beyond me. It's shameful.

[LostinVA]

31. Me too -- it should be deleted

[Bluebear]

45. Here we go again. No mourning for pretty white girls allowed.

[Bentcorner]

2. When was the last time a pregnant Marine murdered by her rapist?

[trumad]

5. When was the last time a soldier was raped in Iraq

of for that matter, a contractor?

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee asked the Justice Department on Tuesday to give a full account of its investigation into the alleged rape of a female contract worker in Iraq two years ago.

Jamie Leigh Jones, a former Conroe resident, filed a federal lawsuit in May against Halliburton Co., its former subsidiary, KBR Inc., and others claiming she was raped by co-workers while working for a Halliburton subsidiary at Camp Hope, Baghdad, in 2005.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/12/contactor.assault.ap/

[canadianbeaver]

3. really says it all doesn't it......pretty sad Trumad...pretty sad....

expect more of the same.....as nothing is gonna change....that is how I feel about it anyways...death is makin people money!!

they are shoving their bogus fears down our throats....and they will not give up any powers they have stolen....can you say POLICE STATE....I know you could.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

4. It's not funny, it's disgusting.

I agree. Nine killed in 2 days and barely a blip in the MSM. And even this story doesn't bring up the problem with rape in the services in general and in Iraq. They are just skimming the surface again.

[trumad]

7. I know it's not funny about the poor girl...

but it's quite strange that these stories are far bigger than 9 dead soldiers in two days.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

41. I knew what you meant...

:hi:

[madinmaryland]

6. Don the flame suit, Trumad.

I commented on the media coverage a couple of days ago, and was called a racist, misogynist, and a bigot, for suggesting the media dwells on "missing white girls"

[trumad]

8. Not to many will flame me for this

and if they do, then they're God Damn idiots.

[Mushroom]

42. oh shut up

[Fierce]

9. Not a flame, but...

Soldiers dying in Iraq is not news.

A pregnant Marine due to testify against her alleged rapist is news. Not necessarily 24/7 news, but news.

In this news climate, anyway.

[trumad]

10. You make my point...

[NOLALady]

13. 4000 dead US soldiers, and tens of thousands dead

Iraqis are so yesterday.

You didn't get the memo?

[trumad]

14. 9 dead in two days use to be big news...

but our MSM decided that it ain't news anymore and now it's just ho hum.

It's sickening in my opinion...sickening.

[ingac70]

15. Some good can come of the focus on this girl...

Like shedding some light on all the other sexual assaults against females in the military and the good old boy tendency of the military to cover it up or blame the victim.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. ????

They were in a war zone. We may not like it, but it's not unexpected.

She was at home, where she should have been safe, where her safety was compromised by her superiors and then covered up by those superiors.

They were war.
She was murder.

There IS a difference.

[Shakespeare]

22. Thank you.

One would think such things would be obvious. :eyes:

[karlrschneider]

28. I prefer "occupation zone"

There is no war.

[Barb in Atl]

39. Perhaps...

But last night, weren't they saying that she had actually left on her own because her (step?)mother said she was bipolar and a compulsive liar? The story wasn't presented as a murder story, but more of a missing woman story. By the way, oh yeah, she claimed to have been raped by a superior officer but that case had fallen apart. Okay, not exact words, but that was definitely the vibe.

In any case, there's a real problem with the way our citizens are informed. I don't see a reason to get mad at the messenger.

I'm with you if the constant barrage of flaws, failings and errors that we face daily just make you pop off periodically because the pressure builds beyond endurance.

[blondeatlast]

48. Good point. I understand Trumad's point, but this isn't the news story

with which to make the point.

[RaleighNCDUer]

50. Exactly. nt

[LSK]

23. you know I always wonder why certrain crime stories get headlines

While the thousands of other ones do not? Or maybe America has SO LITTLE CRIME that this is the only crime story going on right now?

:shrug:

[madinmaryland]

24. Thanks to the MSM, news has become entertainment tonight.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people here who when I stated that a couple of days ago, think of you as a racist and misogynist.

[Shakespeare]

25. It's really not that hard to understand--it's the circumstances of the crime.

When somebody who lives in a high-crime area is murdered or goes missing, it's not--sadly--a huge surprise. When somebody who lives in what was presumed to be a safe environment goes missing or is murdered by a loved one (and the outrageous quotient goes up exponentially and understandably if the victim is pregnant), then it's news.

Why people here continue to feign astonishment over that phenomenon is beyond me.

[trumad]

29. I was going to be sweet about this...

but I'm calling your bullshit and the others who miss the God Damn point of this Op. Why the fuck does this girls death take precedence over 9 dead soldiers in this legal war. Because it's "compelling"? Because it's "compelling"? Because it's fucking "compelling"?

If that's what you think, then shame the fuck on you.

Not one peep about the 9 dead soldiers the last two days but now we'll spend hours hearing about this poor dead pregnant woman. If you don't finds that fucked up, then fine.... side with the sensationalist MSM all you want... but I'll repeat...shame the fuck on you!

[Shakespeare]

35. Oh, bullshit. You're never sweet about anything, Trumad.

And YOU are missing MY point--there is NO FUCKING NEED to belittle this woman's murder (and the hideous things she was put through leading up to it) in order to make your point. THAT is what's disgusting, and you're not "calling" me on shit.

Hell yes, I wish the soldiers' deaths got more attention, especially as we approach the breathtaknig marker of 4,000 dead. But to belittle this particular AND UTTERLY UNRELATED case to make your point is poor (and shameful) logic.

SHAME THE FUCK ON YOU.

Oh, and just to clarify: the specific post you're responding to wasn't even about your OP, so get a fucking clue and read more closely.

[RaleighNCDUer]

37. No, you're wrong. This is two sides of the same fucking coin.

This is not just another murder - it drags in a deliberate military coverup. And still, people in a war zone get killed. It is expected. People who are living normal lives at home are expected to be safe.

There is a sub-text here about an irresponsible military, unaccountable even for crimes committed at home, much less in a war zone.

She is NOT less important that the soldiers who died, nor is she MORE important to the public at large. That changes, bringing the families into it, as it always does. But (with no disrespect for those murdered girls) this IS more than just another 'missing blonde' story.

[madinmaryland]

36. Nice post, Archie Bunker.

You just said that if someone who lives in high crime area is murdered or a victim, it's not important.

:wtf:

I'm not feigning astonishment over that phenomenon. JUST ANGER!

:grr:

[Shakespeare]

38. Oh, that is most certainly NOT what I said.

I said it doesn't come as a big surprise. I also pointed out that it's pathetic that that's the response. I did NOT say it wasn't important.

So go be angry at someone or something else, because you completely misrepresented what I said.

[madinmaryland]

43. I not angry at you, just the phenonenom and the M$M that continues

to treat news like "Entertainment Tonite"

[Shakespeare]

44. You accused me of saying something reprehensible, that I did not say.

That's what I'm trying to clear up.

[madinmaryland]

47. When I read this:

"When somebody who lives in what was presumed to be a safe environment goes missing or is murdered by a loved one (and the outrageous quotient goes up exponentially and understandably if the victim is pregnant), then it's news."

I interpreted it to mean that that is what you thought. If it's not then I misinterpreted what you were saying.

[Shakespeare]

49. Sigh.

What that means is that the incident is outside the norm. It's unusual. It's different. I'm speaking as a former journalist on what makes something newsworthy--and it's not just what the media decides to air or print; in large part, the coverage is a response to what the public wants and finds compelling. You completely ignored my opening sentence, btw (where I noted how sad this is).

The fact that we ignore similar crimes that happen in poor neighborhoods is a huge statement NOT on the media, but at how comfortable society as a whole has become with accepting the cycle of crime and poverty.

Your saying that I said such crimes are "unimportant" isn't a misinterpretation--it's a complete misquote, saying that I said something I did not.

[malaise]

26. Nine in two days

but remember more people die in traffic accidents and the marines wanted to be in Iraq :sarcasm:

[northofdenali]

27. And our Stryker Brigade once again deploys in September.

I work with and love one of their wives. Their son is 2 1/2.

SICK FUCKING "WAR".

[RoadRage]

32. I think we somewhat "expect" soldiers at war to be killed..

No one enjoys it.. i want them the fuck out of Iraq ASAP.

A pregnant marine who is NOT at war, and is killed by someone who she was testifying against for sexual assualt IS a story. No matter WHAT COLOR she was.. or if she was or was not Pregnant.

This story would get headlines no matter if she was black or white due to the "Sensationalism"

The situation & scenarios are totally different - and I think you get that, right?

[onenote]

46. You are right.

Does anyone think that the national news media reported every military fatality during WWII, or Korea, or even Vietnam as headline news? It didn't happen. But certain crimes -- those involving something out of the ordinary -- always have and always will capture the attention of the media and the public.

[SoCalDem]

34. sadly, soldiers are "expected" to be in danger (and possibly die)

in combat...but stateside, on their own base?

that's a "story"..

I hope a lot of young girls are re-thinking their choices about joining or not joining the military.

For all our advances, when a young (usually very pretty) female soldier is attacked/raped/harassed by a superior officer (or not even a superior officer), they get LITTLE if any justice. :(

[Name removed]

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