Some Other Guys Who Died

Something to think about today, courtesy of Salon's Tim Grieve:

When we turned on the television this morning, we saw another round of stories about the Sago mine disaster. It's a big, gripping news story, and we can understand why the networks have thrown so many resources at it.

That said, we couldn't help noticing something this morning. Twelve miners were killed in West Virginia this week. Eleven U.S. troops were killed in Iraq Thursday. Will we see long TV interviews with each and every one of the troops' family members? Live press conferences in which the officials responsible are grilled for answers? Touching reports on their last letters home? Updates from doctors reporting on the condition of soldiers who managed to survive?

We all know who Randal McCloy is. Can anyone name a soldier who was injured in Iraq this week?

We don't mean to take anything away from the importance of what happened in West Virginia. Still, we think it's fair to ask: If the media started covering the deaths of Americans in Iraq like it covered the deaths of Americans in West Virginia, how much longer would the public tolerate the president's war?

Comments

[Margaret]

Oh, my gosh, you are so right; I am ashamed that I didn't think about this. The war has tragically become commonplace to most of us. I have hated it and disagreed with it from the very beginning, but it has much less impact on me than it did then. That is sad. P.S. I notice you're watching Northern Exposure-my dad grew up in Roslyn and we have all been to the Brick!

[scott]

I think what erodes support for the war is the fact that there doesn't seem to be any progress being made militarily. Every day another dozen or more die and it just goes on and on, political gains notwithstanding.

(Northern Exposure was one of the best shows on TV. And Janine Turner? Oh yeah.)