Jessica Lynch is...

[ObaMania]

Sorry if this pisses folks off, but there are so many soldiers that have been injured, captured, and killed that we never hear about! Where's the celebrations and memorials for these folks?

Although I am happy that she is safe at home, I know that I can't be the only one who is sick of hearing about this and think that the celebrations and hoopla are way out of hand.

Therefore, I will cast the first vote.

[JohnKleeb]

1. May I choose other

What I say and please dont flame

Jessica Lynch is..................
A poor girl from West Virginia who had no dreams of being a soldier but had to find some way to get an education so she could be a teacher. She was unfortunate to be among the captured. I think she is kinda of a propaganda tool and I am glad shes ok but I really feel for her comrades who are dead more so I feel for all of em. I also think it is a shame that the only way we can educate the poor really is that they have to volunteer and fight the wars. We need an alternative really.

[ObaMania]

2. Sorry John...

... added "other"

[JohnKleeb]

10. its no problem no big deal

but thats how I feel. I pity her all right but I agree shes a propaganda tool.

[Throckmorton]

3. A major babe

I always a sucker for a hot thing in uniform. Maybe that is why my first girlfriend was a 6 foot girls field hockey player.

Better than Viagra.

[Catherine Vincent]

17. I must not be looking at the same pics than some of you are.

I have seen alot of reference to Ms. Lynch as a pretty young thing. To me she is an average looking young lady and that's it. Hooray for the average looking women out there!

Ms. Lynch gets air time for the average looking woman and Ms. Lewinsky got air time for the full figured woman.

[supernova]

4. Other

Just a human being who got caught up in a media frenzy (WH/Pentagon churned) that had nothing to do with her personally. Those types of things always become more about what people wish to see in you than what you are actually about.

I'm sorry she got injured and captured; glad she's home alive. Sorry for the ones who have come home in a coffin.

[saskatoon]

13. Sorry for the ones who came home in a coffin?

I'm a hell of a lot sorrier for those who have come home with no arms or legs or EYES or terrible wounds that they will never get over or nightmares they will have for years and and and! Of course I'm sorry for the loved ones of those killed but it haunts me re the wounded. Have you noticed that we will get reports of "so many wounded, the count BUT never what their wounds are!

[Clete]

5. About the hero's welcome for Jessica,

here are a couple of thoughts.

1. It is her home town that is giving her the welcome. I hope they do the same for all soldiers returning home. The media, however, is giving it unwarranted attention and it is a propaganda tool for Bush.

2. She is photogenic. If she were fat with buck teeth, the media wouldn't be all over her and neither would the propaganda wing of the Bush adminstration.

My two cents.

[ObaMania]

7. Plus she has the white Aryan look..

.. that the Bushies are banking on to energize their base of support!

Anyone else would be a waste of time and bribe dollars.

[LynneSin]

24. You brought up a great point of the "She's White" comment

because, if I'm correct, there was also an African American woman held hostage. How much media are we giving this woman?

[ObaMania]

26. No word on Shoshanna...

... probably patched up and sent back out!

[Clete]

27. Very little.

The girl's name was Shoshanna and I can't remember her surname. She did get a hero's welcome in her home town in S. Cal, which again I can't remember where. But I remember there was a parade and a lot of celebration. I saw it on the local LA channels, but it didn't hardly get a mention in the national media stations.

[ObaMania]

28. Johnson

n/t

[chookie]

25. a "white Aryan" with a Hopi best friend?

The media may have not found much interest in Lori Piestewa, but Jessica honored her memory today. Think of it -- most people probably went "huh?" when they heard that name, but Jessica mentioned her anyway....

[chookie]

6. I think Jessica would agree with you

Did anyone actually listen to what she said today? I thought the reality -- at last! -- of Jessica is the most remarkable part of the story. She's not buying into the bullshit at all.

She spoke very humbly, and with great awareness. In a day of "America Idol"s and "Joe Millionaire" wannabe celebrity worship ego-induced popular sociopathology, she seems to have rejected the hoopla and not let it get to her head, which is the real miracle of her story.

I thought her brother was a little pompous, but not she, not at all, but even he began by gravely remembering those who had died in this war, and those who remain there now.

She called Lori Piestewa her best friend, and said how she misses her badly. I think she is very aware of the irony of her celebrity....

She said she read many accounts of what had happened to her, and that one of the details which was correct was the report that she had said "I am an American soldier." This indicates to me that she does have detailed memories, and is acutely aware at how her story was mis-reported and distorted. She may even realize that people were using her....

Her family have not attempted to inflate the story, and have remained authentic throughout the roller coaster ride of her fame.

Lesser people could have bought into the lies to aggrandise themselves, to cultivate the celebrity for the cash it could bring -- after all, there were plans of a made-for-tv movie which would have been extremely lucrative for her! But she has rejected the lies, and the myth, and remains Jessica, and to me, the reality of her far exceeds the cheesy True American HeroTM cartoon character they created of her. This shows her to have tremendous character. You don't see her negotiating book deals, or appearing at the White House to prop up the smirk. She does not appear to be willing to be interviewed on tv. We'll never see her on Celebrity Boxing, and she will never have her own show on Fox, or dating Ashton Kurcher -- although as a pretty celebrity, she could have all of these things, but apparently she doesn't want them, preferring life merely as Jessica Lynch, and that is good enough for me. I wish her well

[TheBigGuy]

8. Good observation!

Thank you for that post...appreciate it!

[Clete]

12. Thanks for posting.

I had to leave the house just when her helicopter was landing so I missed her speech. Thanks again.

[newyawker99]

33. Great post chookie!

:thumbsup:

[saskatoon]

15. wish her well

Amen and Amen!

[JohnKleeb]

16. Good for her

Sounds like a great lady. I am glad her and her family arent being jerks seems like they showed a lot of class I knew military people werent like this I am sorry she lost her best friend in battle and lets remember that she too is a casuality of war even more so than us here she will proably remember her war years and her friend she lost. I read the MSN aricle had a link to what Joey Scarbourough was gonna do tonight didnt seem pretty and MSNBC showed their bias with that but I think we all know anyone who can speak of their dead comrade and best friend with class and not act like a warmongreling freak is worthy of class and respect. Joe Scarborough and most of the other GOP bastards will never really understand I dont think most people will I think of things like this and this makes me dovish in all reality.

[gardenista]

18. Thank you, you've said it well

I was very impressed with her humble speech, in which she thanked the Iraqis who saved her life.

I listened carefully to her words, and she did not give Bush a nod. By excluding him from mention, she spoke volumes. I believe she knows she is being used. I hope she can retain her composure and dignity in the months that follow.

[chookie]

22. "Not mentioning Bush speaks volumes."

Indeed!

The media reported that she reads newspapers; if true, then there is no way that she is unaware of what is going on.

Some months ago, I speculated that Bush was interested in her story because he saw it as instrumental in once again winning West Virginia. But she is not going to hand her state over to him. Good for her.

[Qutzupalotl]

21. Well said, but--

while she may not have a book deal, I thought Viacom or somebody bought rights to her story for a TV-movie. Am I mistaken? That was in the works before the official story fell apart, IIRC.

Now that it's clear the Pentagon exaggerated, her reluctance to speak to the media and answer questions may well be on direct orders...in which case I'm sure she's well aware that she's being used.

[ewagner]

23. Great Post!

I think she was quite frightened. Very much afraid of saying the wrong thing but still wanting to get out her devotion to her friend and sorrow for the soldiers in her unit who didn't make it home.

I have a good feeling about this kid. I think she has strength and good 'ole middle class values that will keep her from being used as a propaganda tool.

[LiberalLibra]

9. Pure propaganda and nothing more!! I too am glad she is home BUT......

....the REAL HEROES are those who will never see their families again and those still over there fighting in god awful heat without adequate supplies.

[ObaMania]

11. Amen Libra!

n/t

[RedSox02]

14. How about "unwilling propoganda tool"?

That is more like it

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Yeah it's not her fault, poor girl

n/t

[gardenista]

20. Amen. n/t

.

[kentuck]

29. Just a kid...

Did you hear her talk? She was very shy and had to read most of her statement.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

30. Here's my take on it...

The poor girl is being used as the Bush propaganda tool, but she never ASKED to be used as such. This girl went into the military in hopes of getting money to become a TEACHER. I hope that when she does become a teacher, the news media reports it. I am glad she is trying to get discharged from the military now, she never asked to be the Bush cabinet's golden girl war hero.

[Norbert]

31. ...just a girl.

.

[PunkinPi]

32. she is a tool

under the control of "G.I.A." (Governmental Instituted Amenisiac) - not real, I made this up.