Public Coercion

"This has not gotten, I think, play and the debate that it deserves or the debate that it deserves in the country up to this point," says Hannity in reference to this first video that aired on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 and is now being criticized as 'coverage to the terrorists' and 'endangering troops'. The second is a beating of Iraqi children interrupted by a soldier saying “Hey! Do something. This is fucking disgusting.” Neither video should be censored.

The reality at home and in the media is that we stand with the troops. That is why journalists in Iraq are embedded in battle units as a matter of procedure. If the media did objective reporting in Iraq like some real journalists do, then there would be less support for the occupation. Mainstream media does not even show blood, no gore, no children, no bodies, no caskets, and wounded only with a positive theme. If anything, it is sickening it’s how much is not shown at the expense of animated images and groomed actors. Censorship on television needs to be redefined to limit detailed weapon manufacture. Calling the above footage terrorist propaganda is supported by the mentality in media that viewers do not want to be offended. The impression delivered is that people are not dieing and people are not suffering. Real war journalism will not be on television anytime soon.

The reality in Iraq is that the recipients of most beatings, bombings, and stray bullets are Iraqi children. I’m sure there is an inordinate number of children hospitalized for malnutrition, lack of clean water, and radiation. Iraqi children are silently dieing, and they’re not given enough attention. Child insurgents in Iraq are not given media attention. Children getting chocolate and soccer balls are omnipresent images of the occupation. This is mainly due to Iraq’s age demographic: half of the population is under 20, so there are a ton of children dieing and some fighting back.