L.A. Times: Joining Military Not ‘A Well-Informed Choice,’ But A ‘Product of Manipulation’
From Newsbusters:
The 21-year-old nephew of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez has enlisted in the Marines, and Lopez isn’t happy about it. “Don’t become a pawn, I told my nephew,” Lopez writes. His column is, “When the reality of Iraq hits home” (Sun., 7/15/07).
Says Lopez:
Some have argued that without a draft, enlisting in this war is a matter of choice, so what happens, happens.
But that’s not necessarily true in the case of National Guard troops who have been called up. And as for soldiers as young as my nephew, I don’t see enlistment as a well-informed choice but as a product of manipulation.
Continued at Newsbusters
Dollard: The real problem for Mr. Lopez is not the fear he has for his nephew’s life, but because his nephew’s service insults his ego and manhood by directly contradicting everything Mr. Lopez believes in, and by shaming the record of his life. For Mr. Lopez, his nephew’s service is the proverbial slap in the face, and he is reacting to its sting and embarrasement.
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This is the irony of this statement:
“…I don’t see enlistment as a well-informed choice…”
This ass-clown, Steve Lopez; his !JOB! is to inform people. He is a “journalist.” If his own nephew is so ill-informed that he makes the huge blunder of joining the military (sarcasm), then how well informed can his readers expect to be?
I’m not even going to comment of the stupidity of the rest of what he is saying… It speaks for itself.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:12 amthe thing that is hypocritical is that he thinks a 13-14 year old girl can have an abortion on her own, but does not think a 21 year old man can handle a stint in the Marines? You think he does not like the military
July 16th, 2007 at 2:38 amA pawn?? So just because his beliefs vary from others, they’re to be called “pawns” now? Jerk.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:57 amI’m sure the 2007 Winter Season Non-Secular Festivities Meal (aka 2007 Christmas Dinner) conversation will be very interesting in that household. Maybe Uncle Steve and his life-partner Aunt John won’t be invited because of the incident during Charades when the two got lost in the heat of passion during their portrayal of Brokeback Mountain and RumpRanger.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:36 amI’m writing a letter to the editor, this is obscene.
Presently, I am in the process of applying to Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. This has been a lengthy, informed decision on my part, one which I take very seriously.
As for Steve Lopez, he should remove his oversized foot from his oversized mouth. I consider myself just the opposite of uninformed. I closely follow the news, particularly regarding the war on terror, Iraq, etc., and I Blog about the war. I’m fully aware of the dangers we face from Islamic extremism at home and abroad.
Lopez’ suggestion that anyone who joins the military is basically ignorant is a smack in the face to hundreds of thousands of service men and women and their families risking their lives for our freedom.
It seems to me that Lopez is the ignorant one; ignorant of the wolf growling at the door (to quote Toby Keith), ignorant of so many Americans’ love of their country, and ignorant to think that any of his readers would take the incendiary comments he has made lying down.
When I graduate from OCS, if I make it though, God willing, I’ll be writing Lopez a colorful love poem that he can hang up in his cubicle for his co-workers to see.
But first, I think I’ll write a letter to the editor at the L.A. Times.
Thanks for posting this, Pat.
Nick Brunetti
July 16th, 2007 at 4:36 amseems to me that mr lop-ez is trying to manipulate and uninform his nephew,, when i enlisted in the MARINES i checked out all sorts of stuff,,, uniform color,pay,days off per week,education,hrs per day,amount of amunition provided, weight of the M-14,size of a pineapple grenade,and so on,,, now my son checked out all that and more,,,,,,,,sandy beaches,camel back water containers, air conditioned tents,,,
July 16th, 2007 at 4:58 amso is ted rall on the editorial board at the lame times?
July 16th, 2007 at 4:58 amThank you Nick and Gods speed
July 16th, 2007 at 5:04 amThats right Pat.
This is protecting his ego writing.
When a mans life has stood for nothing other than to ridicule and demean others of good moral character and strength then there is shame indeed.
This man makes me sick.
This is a cowardly human man indeed when I read his comment hoping his daughter would be as responsible as those girls….I have to wonder is that because he wants to play osterich? and not want to know or help or guide his own child. I feel sick.
Truely we have encountered a horendous example of humanity in this man. And he sends out his sick influence though the MSM.
Gee as if we need another reason to avoid the MSM.
Barf.
July 16th, 2007 at 5:17 amThe LA Times speaks for itself. It isn’t even worth a comment.
July 16th, 2007 at 5:20 am[Dollard: The real problem for Mr. Lopez is not the fear he has for his nephew’s life, but because his nephew’s service insults his ego and manhood by directly contradicting everything Mr. Lopez believes in, and by shaming the record of his life. For Mr. Lopez, his nephew’s service is the proverbial slap in the face, and he is reacting to its sting and embarrasement.]
I agree, Pat. (Saw this last night on newsbusters) … Lopez’s *other* problem is now when his nephew’s face will pop into his mind and guilt will try to ooze in, as Lopez pens another anti-war, anti-military, anti-whatever article. Now, perhaps, Lopez must consider if his “journalistic” actions might be contributing to the enemy’s propaganda that could (and does) contribute to more of our military’s deaths. Could Lopez’s next antiwar screed indirectly cause his own nephew’s death?
newsbusters also notes Lopez’s support for very under-age girls (as young as 13) to CHOOSE to have abortions (dangerous surgical procedures) without their parents’ knowledge or consent because we should all just trust that these girls, at that age, can make the right choice all by themselves (with manipula ……. er, guidance and counseling of course from the trained abortion clinic professionals).
HOWEVER, Lopez’s 21 year old nephew, who can legally drink, vote, invest in stocks, buy a house, buy a car, rent a car, would be at the very least a senior in college and possibly entering medical or law school, and if he had gotten married after high school graduation would possibly have a toddler child or two … BUT, at the same age (21) he is unable to make a “well-informed CHOICE but (is) as a product of manipulation” about risking his life for his country?!??????????!!!!!!!!!!!
These people really are fucking inside out and up their own twisted asses.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:30 amP-friggin-S:
How much of a problem would Lopez have if his nephew decided to become a cop … or better yet, a US Border Guard?? hmmmmmmmmmmm?????
July 16th, 2007 at 6:41 amLet’s see, I could either 1) become part of the best-trained military in the world, bring freedom to untold millions of people, protect said people from evildoers who wish to behead them because they don’t agree with their particular religious sect, and provide for the security of my own country, or 2) become a “journalist”.
Sounds like the 21-year old made the much more noble choice to me. But I guess journalists for the L.A. Times don’t have that word in their lexicon.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:37 amAll I can do is parrot what a lot have said so far. Sometimes I think they over ‘xplain it. Yes, yes, yes, I understand. Shut up and give me the pen.
July 16th, 2007 at 8:07 amMy daughter joined the Army a couple of months ago, and will be going to boot camp in August. She made this decision with full knowledge of what could happen in a time of war (or peace for that matter), and I am so proud of her. She decided to join on her own, not as the result of brainwashing. She loves her country and wants to serve it with her life.
I spent 12 years in the Navy (6 active, 6 reserve) myself, and the only reason I joined was to see the world. Mostly, I just saw the sea :-), but nevertheless I didn’t join because of brainwashing either. I joined knowing what could happen, and had no problem with it, because I love my country and wanted to do something different with my life (like get out of my hometown).
I don’t know anyone from my military days who ever felt like they were brainwashed into joining the military. There were some who felt like they didn’t get the assignment they were promised; and that’s not a good thing, but that isn’t the same thing. Anyone who joins the Army or Marines today has got to know beforehand that they could end up somewhere in a shooting war; they would have to be almost brain-dead not to know that.
Sure the recruiters try to emphasize travel and education benefits, but so what? If I were a recruiter, I would do the same thing. I would be completely honest with the potential recruits about the risks, but there is nothing wrong with a little salesmanship. Salesmanship does not equal brainwashing.
July 16th, 2007 at 8:14 amMax:
Good points. Congrats to your daughter: another fine American. I keep saying that we have in this generation…despite the loonie lefties…the makings of another “Greatest Generation”.
July 16th, 2007 at 8:31 amPat, you are exactly right. Just this morning I had a guy I work with express sympathy because my boys are in the Army. My God, I couldn’t be any prouder of them for the men they have become or the choices they have made.
July 16th, 2007 at 9:40 amPat’s comments are so true. S. Lopez’s writings define the word “coward.” I salute his nephew for having more sense than him!
July 16th, 2007 at 10:23 amI think that the Pentagon should maintain a number of short-term embed slots for state-side journalists for “educational” purposes. The Army could then make a public offer to Mr. Lopez to embed in Iraq if only for a few weeks to do more research on this subject and to learn what his nephew may see after he completes his training.
July 16th, 2007 at 10:34 amJoe Evans -
HOT DAMN! I think you’re onto something!
You know how the antiwar/antiIraq monkeys are always bitching those who haven’t served in the military or a war don’t have a right to support this one?
How about No Journalist/Reporter Should Be Allowed To Write A Story Or Article Or Column On The Iraq War (or A-stan, for that matter) Unless They First Serve An Embed Tour With A Military Unit In Actual Battle (and I do not mean the enemy’s battle units, as CNN and AP are so inclined to …)
July 16th, 2007 at 3:22 pmGet this…the same lefty Los Angeles Times reporters that write their anti-war columns during the week are now writing obituaries of fallen Soldiers that are printed in the Sunday L.A. Times…so disrespectful, just outrageous. The treasonous L.A. Times, never to be trusted.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:03 pmTrackbacks not working, therefore trackback.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:51 pmIf Mr. Lopez would like I could introduce him to many people thankful to both my own Government and the American’s people who were tortured and beaten by Saddam’s regime!
Granted, sometimes the Government makes a misjudgment, but they are YOUR Government and YOUR leaders and these “pawns” are not only fighting for YOUR national security but for the freedoms of women, men and children; the old and the young, to ensure that evil men do not have the means to cause endured suffering on a mass scale.
These are YOUR troops and as a competitive Brit, I don’t like bolstering the American ego but there are a lot of good men suffering in the bleaching sun and YOU will respect them for what they do!
July 21st, 2007 at 8:02 am