Damn, I'm getting increasingly frustrated with the way "our" media is portraying this war. I see so many letter to the editor from people who only believe what they read in the papers and see on the network news and it's too obvious that they (like the media, apparently) it all to be going badly and for us to roll over and let the terrorists/insurgents beat us. Who's agenda is this and why has it become so prevalent?

I get so tired of this seemingly endless media (MSM) bashing - is it slanted, likely - does it frustrate - sure - but what do you do about it? Many seem to like to throw a fit...Scoob, do you write in to counter balance the letters you bemoan? Do you support MSM with your money...there is capatalism at work here - if the money leads elsewhere, then that is where they will go.

Last time I checked out local news it was mostly murder/shootout/consumer fraud/etc - and the feel good stories were cheesy and queesy - and this seems true with Iraq (focus on negative, dumb down what little positive is reported). I do find stories of hope in Iraq, but can they compete with car bombings for ratings/circulation...probably not.

You can take MSM to task (rightly on many occasions - CBS comes to mind), but you let the consumers off the hook too easily and seem to give yourself a pass after airing a rant instead of doing something about it.

Nlite10mint -

is it slanted, likely - does it frustrate - sure - but what do you do about it?

1. Point out the deficiences in alternate media (as you mention, there is an overabundance of this, but it's still a necessary component)

2. Start your own media outlet and report the news that they skip (see 3 posts down from this one for an example).

While I understand your points about ineffectual MSM bashing, this bit ...

seem to give yourself a pass after airing a rant instead of doing something about it.

... is pure, ignorant bullshit. Me? I DO do something about it. I've taken steps beyond mere rants by actually holding the inaccuracies and bias to account. I report news, take pictures of events, interview people. And I have succeeded in holding outlets responsible and spurring change.

And if you don't take my word for it, ask Mary Mapes, the staff of the CBS Evening News and the Boston Globe, for starters.

"Give (myself) a pass?" I don't even understand what that means. And you picked the wrong blog to swipe during a point about ineffectual bitching about the MSM.

but what do you do about it?

Nothing today. But in my defense, I was saving children from a burning church.

Sadly, my friend Johnny, who aided in the rescue, was hurt really bad and may not make it.

Stay gold, Nlite10mint.

Bill - I know you do a lot about it. Alas, you seem easily angered on this subject. My comment was to Scoob but I should have been more clear. I read this blog EXACTLY because it is an alternative to MSM.

I do not do as much as you do Bill...I do write in to my local paper when I disagree or have issue but alas, I could and should do more.

Jeff - what? Hyperbole/sick joke or are you for real. I have a cousin who is a firefighter and I have the utmost respect for people who risk their lives (as part of their job) to help/save others, so who knows, it could be true in your case.

What an amazing story. But then, people these days aren't too keen on heros. They seem more interested in victims.

Nlite: Jeff was making a reference to "The Outsiders", and a pretty hilarious one at that. I think he was making fun of you for taking yourself too seriously, or maybe he was just being silly--I don't know, but I sure as hell found it funny.

If one were to examine the Medal of Honor citations from the Vietnam War, one might notice that a significant percentage of them were awarded for conduct precisely like that of SGT Peralta.

It's high time - no, long past time - that we hear about the troops and their acts of bravery that have earned awards in the current conflict.

I see...I suppose I made an ass out of myself there. A little too bent out of shape about it, eh?

As for the story and the man behind it - I could not agree more; honestly, I wish this did make more news . I'd also like to see more stories covering our military in action with tsunami relief...(dare I mention there is a good piece over on slate about this: http://www.slate.com/id/2112381/entry/0/)

Bill - I know you do a lot about it. Alas, you seem easily angered on this subject.

I get a lot of crap. Many bloggers do, I suppose. And your criticism about inaction, though it made generally valid points about pointless carping, is beyond surprising in reference to my efforts.

I mean, what would I have to do, actually kidnap Dan Rather and Mary Mapes? Infest CNN headquarters with rodents? And why would you just be going after scoob, when his comment essentially echoed my post?

In addition, the end of your comment was hostile.

I suppose we'll just drop it.