The Anger of Compassion

Americans, as seen by the German MSM

"Mainstream media," that is.

Just found this one this evening, at Davids Medienkritik: an examination of views of America as presented to German readers, courtesy of Der Stern. The presentation and the message to be taken is a bit, shall we say, predictable.

One thing, though, caught my eye (well, in more than one way, believe me): the item on Stern's page 7, which contrasts Aubrie Lemon with Corporal Theresa Mazluf, who is listed as a "Marine trainer (note: not "Drill Instructor," even though she's wearing The Hat). She's quoted as saying, "It is my duty as a soldier to fight for this country to make it safer and better."

Ugh. Twice, in fact. First of all, soldiers don't make this country "better." When they are performing their missions, they're defending this country. That's it. That is necessary and honorable work -- but they're not making the place any better by that. But that's not what chaps my ass: I spent twelve years in the Marine Corps, and it was against the cultural grain for any of us to refer to ourselves or to each other as "soldiers," or to accept that moniker from anyone else. I'd like to think that Corporal Mazluf was misquoted.

Oh, and both women are babes, no problem there.

(Hat tip: Marnee at View On Life, who wears miniskirts and contributes thereby to the daily beautification of Tucson, Arizona. Perhaps that should have been Marnee in the Stern article, rather than the dubiously named Aubrie Lemon.)

Posted by Craig Ceely at March 23, 2005 10:43 PM