e-Vents

[ Friday ]

 

Flyover Country

Since the war in Iraq began, I have witnessed a number of talking heads discussing 'what if' scenarios, and 'should have/could have' opinions from the comfort of their armchairs on the networks' television sets. Some might argue that these guys are "Monday morning quarterbacks" and aren't entitled to second guess the military commanders. I disagree.

Most of the advisors and consultants have served their time in the military, and are entitled to their opinions. From Wesley Clark to a parade of retired Colonels, they offer their insight into how the military operates, and for many Americans and a worldwide television audience, it is enlightening and educational.

More important, perhaps, is the role of the embedded journalists. They are getting to know the front line army, marines, navy, and air force personnel in an upclose and personal way and understanding the values that brought these people into military service. And most of the military is comprised not of east coast liberal arts majors from the Ivy League schools, but from middle America...'fly-over country'...as someone described it.

This evening, I watched The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and one segment was about the death of a marine from flyover country. Ryan Beaupre, a Captain and Marine Corps pilot was killed in a helicopter crash at the beginning of the war. The article did an in-depth interview with friends, former school principals and coaches, and the Mayor of the small Illinois town where Beaupre grew up and attended school. The school principal talked about values, and how it was evident at an early age that Beaupre's values had already been formed. Words like 'honesty' and 'integrity' were used to describe not the Marine, but the young teenage boy. It came as no surprise to many of his friends that Beaupre left the corporate world after college to join the Marines. Love of country and his sense of duty were not just phrases to him.

Within the first few hours of the start of the war, Beaupre's helicopter crashed. Beaupre paid the ultimate price.

As the next segment began, the studio camera zoomed in on Jim Lehrer. Lehrer was caught wiping the corner of one eye with his index finger. I was doing the same thing. It had been a tough story to watch.

MM [18:46]