The media "sanitizes" war

I had a brief discussion with someone concerning how the media informs Americans about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is apparent (to me) that the wars have been 'sanitized' by the media. Americans see a "cleaned up" version of what is going on in these wars.

Unfortunately, still, a large portion of the American population doesn't see even those versions because they are too busy carrying on with their normal routines of daily living. They are basically, clueless.

They have lost sight of the fact that OUR COUNTRY has been at war for YEARS.

Ask a large majority of Americans about the casualities that our military has suffered due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they couldn't come close to telling you the numbers.

Ask a large majority of Americans about the number of suicides committed by our military in the last few years, and they would give you a "deer in the headlights" look.

Ask a large majority of Americans about the number of our Veterans returning from the wars that are becoming involved in the criminal justice system, and you would get another "deer in the headlights" look.

YES - the media sanitizes war. They report statistics, they give us the "pretty pictures" they don't show the truly bloody, horrific facts and pictures of war.

Why? Because the American people cannot handle it.

"Photo of Fatally Wounded Marine Causes Controversy: Sensationalism or Journalism?"

"Associated Press photographer Julie Jacobson accompanied a patrolling Marine unit when they came under attack in the Helman province, located in southern Afghanistan. In the midst of the ambush, Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, 21, of New Portland, Maine, was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade and suffered fatal injuries.

The photos that chronicled the events were then distributed. Because she was embedded, she had photos of Bernard prior to the attacks, during and then showing his fellow Marines carrying him to a helo for evacuation. She also captured the memorial service his fellow Marines held for him after his death."

So to every American reading this I say:

Until we can accept the horror and human carnage that our troops endure at war, how are we supposed to help them when they come home if we are without knowledge of what they have endured?

(click here for the complete story and the comments that follow)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/militarywire/archives/178503.asp