The Press and the Protestors

Unpublished - The Press and the Protestors
Every day, the press focuses on the death toll in Iraq. Not only do they point out the total number of deaths, but they draw special attention to the number of Americans killed in Iraq. The liberals in the media want everyone to hear and see the negative side of this war and they will do whatever it takes to make things seem as bad as possible. What they won't do is give you comparisons to other death toll statistics so that you can judge for yourself, just how bad things really are.

The anti-war protestors feed on these media reports and publicly denounce this war. They cry out against the injustice of war. They publicly mourn the loss of each life and pride themselves on their own version of humanity. They stage their protests and they rally against our government. Many express hatred for anyone who supports our President or the war itself. In some cases, the protestors even attack our servicemen and women, simply because they are willing to fight for this country.

The average murder rate in America for the past decade is over 17,200 homicides per year. That equates to an average of 47 murders per day in this country. I have yet to see one headline which reads "47 Murdered in America" or "47 Brutally Slain in one Day". Where are the dramatic headlines drawing attention to this human crisis? Where are the protestors on this issue? Where is the outrage in America? Where are the tears for these victims?

There were over 101,500 deaths in America listed as "unintentional fatalities" in 2004. That is an average of 278 so-called "accidental" deaths per day. The highest single category was motor vehicle accidents, with 43,788 deaths. That equates to 120 lives lost in car crashes per day. Where are the headlines for these figures? Where are the anti-death protestors on this issue? How many anti-war protestors have you seen protesting drivers on American highways for their reckless disregard for life?

The press is quick to lump the casualty figures from Iraq together into one headline for dramatic effect. However, you will never see them doing the same right here at home for the non-war casualty figures. Iraq is a country at war, fighting for their freedom and democracy. Islamic extremists and terrorists are killings dozens of Iraqis on a daily basis. Of course their death toll is going to be high. America does not have any combat operations happening on our soil, and yet we kill over 300 people per day.

If the anti-war protestors truly cared about the senseless loss of life, they would protest murder and call for stiffer punishment for killers. They would be members of safety groups right here in America, promoting driver safety and teaching people to avoid deadly situations. They would draw great attention to post "accidental" death tolls by posting them on billboards and in the media. They would work hard to drive down the excessively high "unintentional fatality" rate in America.

My son is a U.S. Marine who has already served two tours in Iraq. I am in no hurry to see him return to the Middle East. Like most Americans, I anxiously await an end to the hostilities in Iraq and in the Middle East. Like most Americans, I would prefer to avoid war whenever possible. However, unlike most Americans, I can see through the fog of the headlines and through the pickets of the protestors. I understand the true depth of the cost of war and I recognize the need to finish the job in the Middle East.

Statistically speaking, an American is more likely to get killed in Washington D.C. or New Orleans than in Iraq. Many Americans believe that war is stupid. However, more Americans die every day from stupidity, than they do from war.