"Body Count! Body Count!"
The reason I find this article poignant is that I am old enough to remember when "body counts" were being used cynically (some would say) to attempt to boost home support of the Vietnam War, while many protesters interested in the well-being of the nation (to give them the benefit of a rather large body of doubt) derided the use of such "scorekeeping" —
— and now, here we are, in a war that is allegedly a Quagmiric Replay of Vietnam, and now the "progressive" spawn of the war protesters of the 60's... are using "body counts" to boost disapproval of the war?
And I wonder if the Dr. Mrs. Wrymouth is putting powdered meds in my diet sodas.
I heartily disapprove of trivializing death and casualty in this manner.
** End of Line **
Shades of Garry Trudeau and his satirical takes on "body count" reports during Vietnam (has he — have I — really been around that long?!):
The Nose on Your Face unearths The New Pocket Casualty Counter From The Associated Press!
Amaze your friends!
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need the new Associated Press Pocket Iraq Casualty Counter! Now the information you need to make bizarre, extraneous points about the Iraqi War is at your fingertips, 24 hours a day! The Pocket Casualty Counter uses satellite technology to wirelessly provide instant updates on casualties, as they happen. And the Pocket Casualty Counter links the death toll with a historical database to provide you with the factual ammunition you need to battle those crazy neo-cons, on the go! So you'll be able to say, "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but George Bush has now murdered 10 times the number of people who are eaten alive in an average decade by the Spotted Siberian Tiger." Imagine the look of shock on their Christian fundamentalist faces!
Wow. That's the kind of 'satire' I thought was hilarious - when I was in Junior High.
Now, it strikes me as juvenile, clumsy, tasteless and very 'Glenn Beck'. (But I repeat myself.)
I'd take 'Nose' off my link list, wrymouth - you can do better than that.
PS: December 26th was the anniversary of the death in Iraq of Army Chief Warrant Officer Matt Salter, 44, son of our neighbors across the street. I'm afraid I don't find body count jokes very funny. But that's me.
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See also clarifications in main article, modified.
I thought you were going to say you "almost fell off your dinosaur" the last time you laughed at satire like that. If you are still (as I am) laughing at Onion articles, you are not so far away from Junior High as you would like to think. Maybe we're up to College-level humor.
Of course -- Potfry and BFW, who seem to be the main writers at TNOYF, don't seem to find body count discussions funny or tasteful. I think they find body count references and markers even more offensive than you find them.
They just deal with them in a different way, via black humor.
It wouldn't be the first time I've known someone who stepped on someone's toes with a piece of satire, whether well- or poorly-executed.
You will note, in comments such as yours (very good on ya, btw) to the article, unanimous support for SPC Mitchell ("shoot straight," "be safe"). It is likely that some of these supporters are fellow military men -- unlike you and me. I am inclined to trust their judgement over ours in such matters.
And if you don't think that Twain or Swift ever had to explain their satire, I think you've got at least one more think coming. Whether it is worth taking the trouble to explain satire is another matter. To take a small example:
I also hypothesize (and this before I peek) that you would find that kind of support for the troops across the board at TNOYF, by readers and writers alike, in all articles.
Dare we survey the Daily Kos for level of troop support, in comparison? And yet, I link to them.
And don't you find the near-perfect lack of coverage of their accomplishments insulting to the memory of these men and women? Isn't it insulting that large portions of our nation -- the nation for which they labor and suffer -- has a mental image of our military personnel just hanging around, cruising in humvees, and flying aimlessly from place to place in helicopters, waiting to be injured or killed?
I wish some large media outlet would go to work and show us, let us see and hear, what these folk are doing over there.
Maybe next year.
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Yes, let's poll the level of troop support at Kos and other liberal sites. I think you'll find it every bit as solid as the RW ones, just a different flavor.
Non-support of an ill-conceived and horribly managed military adventure does NOT equal non-support of the unfortunate troops who are doing excellent work under horrifying circumstances and the lack of a strategic plan.
And as to the alledged 'lack of coverage' for their accomplishments, I'm mystified. We've seen very little BUT fanfare for their accomplishments, starting with that little stunt on the USS Abraham Lincoln nearly four years ago.
The accomplishments now must be made by political and socioeconomic means, not the military. Our forces are fighting a holding action, a deadly vamp while the Iraqis somehow get it together.
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Glad you and the Kos Kids are solidly behind the troops; glad you noticed that these guys are as well.
Insofar as 'vamping' goes, I see you have that mental image, referenced above. There we must part ways.
I'll try and get you some links, as your idea of 'positive' fails to extend beyond, what, ironic commentary on coverage of the president landing on a carrier?
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Can't find the OLD Doonesbury strips, but here's one from April of this year.
BD's lost half a leg in Fallujah; his "counseling session" series should be up for a Pulitzer, in my opine.
"courtesy" Doonesbury.com
Concentrating on the human being is Trudeau's strength, as perhaps it is with most of us, liberal and conservative alike (although I wonder how many libs would do a "spit take" at my inclusion of conservatives there).
Overall prescriptions are -- must be? -- hazier for those of us who are not in possession of more information.
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My comment on TNOYF - Let's see what kind of reaction this gets:
Potfry:
Re: your email to SPC Mitchell.
Word to the wise: If you have to explain your 'satire' then it's not very good satire.
Read some Swift, Mark Twain or even The Onion. Take notes. You'll find that skillful satirists rarely have to explain themselves.
To SPC Mitchell: Thanks for your service and sacrifice. I'm sorry that you have to go back to Iraq for a second tour. One should have been plenty. Please return safely.
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