Get
lost, get rich
Sarah
Thigpen
Many
of us have protested the war in Iraq. As
a result, there has been a push to promote
this conflict and gain the support of America.
But recently, the mass media has taken a
step from the patriotic to the inane.
We
all know the story of Jessica Lynch, the
brave prisoner of war specialist that was
rescued over in Iraq. What actually happened
was the convoy she was traveling with read
the map incorrectly. As a result they got
lost, then ran into an ambush trying to
find their way. Many of the soldiers were
shot and killed and some were taken prisoner.
Lynch was one of those soldiers.
As
a female in the Army myself, my heart bled
for Lynch's family as they waited for her
safe return. Knowing what can become of
women POWs, I feared for her safety. I cheered
when Rangers risked their lives to rescue
her. And I breathed a sigh of relief when
I learned during her imprisonment she had
not been raped, tortured, or worse.
Shortly
after her return home, my sighs turned to
gags. Lynch was hailed a national hero.
That was understandable. The President himself
gave her combat medals to her. Good for
him. But then the tide turned.
Recently
Lynch's civilian attorney announced that
Lynch was medically discharged from the
Army so that she could "pursue book
and movie deals." The deal came through
on Sept. 2, and Lynch has sold her brave
story for $1 million plus royalties.
So
let me get this straight: a soldier got
lost, got shot and captured, then had to
be rescued by Army Rangers, and she gets
a million dollars?
Forgive
me for being unsympathetic, but since when
do we reward people for getting captured?
When did we start giving book deals to soldiers
that got lost? This was the kind of story
my drill sergeants and TACs told me as a
scare tactic to get me to grasp the seriousness
of what I was undertaking. Not as an encouragement
to become a 5-minute-fame seeker with some
quick cash to boot.
And
where is the book for the soldiers that
were captured with her? I already know the
answer to that one. They aren't cute enough
or blonde enough for a movie of the week
deal with ABC. Where's the movie of the
week on the soldiers that dodged bullets
to pull out one of their own? The answer:
they're too busy jump-starting Iraq to meet
with their agents. As a result the blond,
defenseless Specialist from West Virginia
gets rammed down our throats.
I
have seen people do many things in the military,
but I have never seen a soldier try to use
a horrific experience like being a POW to
make a buck.
Many
have claimed that this is a great recruitment
message. If that is the case, then this
is message to soldiers and recruits: Do
not listen to a word your NCOs or officers
say to you. They are trying to save your
lives and keep you safe. Sleep through map
reading class. Read maps wrong and get lost
in a combat zone. Then break your leg and
wait for the real heroes to pull you out.
You'll get the book deal. They'll just get
shot at trying to bring you home.
Sara
Thigpen is a public relations major at Cal
State Long Beach and a 2nd Lt. in the Signal
Corps of the California Army National Guard.
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