Semantics or hidden agenda? The mainstream media; Let's take a closer look.

“Cindy Sheehan, the California mother who drew thousands of demonstrators to her 26-day vigil outside Bush's Texas ranch last month, won a roar of approval when she took the stage in Washington. Her 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year.” http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/24/antiwar.ap/

‘Killed in Iraq’ vs. ‘Died in the line of duty’

Our society is based on the principle of Law; a stated view or idea mutually agreed upon and upheld. These laws consist of words which hold great meaning. Words are used to foster peace or to engulf in war. How we use these words reveal our motive of meaning or our direction of persuasion.

“Killed in Iraq.” While there may be some pragmatically detached individual who views what Army Specialist Casey Sheehan did as simply being ‘killed in Iraq’, I am not such a person and the words used by CNN devalue the heroic sacrifice made by Army Specialist Casey Sheehan who died in the line of duty.

Army Specialist Casey Sheehan had already completed his first enlistment tour and ‘re-upped’ for another four years. While serving his country in the Iraqi Theatre of the War on Terror, Army Specialist Casey Sheehan volunteered to assist in a rescue mission. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan died during this mission and he received a bronze star and purple heart for his sacrifice. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan died in service to his country, he died in the line of duty.

CNN’s reporting of Army Specialist Casey Sheehan’s sacrifice reveals their true motive(agenda) to support the anti-war rally in Washington D.C.. They purposely omit the truth surrounding the service of Army Specialist Casey Sheehan in order to support his activist mother and those she associate with. When CNN makes such insensitive and irresponsible statements regarding the service of a U.S. serviceman/woman who died in the line of duty, they lower his/her sacrifice to that of random crime brought on by a crooked sheriff. CNN and others within the mainstream media have denied the truth behind the story to further the agenda of anti-war activist who benefit from the lie or the omission of the full truth.

Our words still have meaning. How we report the service and sacrifice of our military servicemen/women will reveal how we truly view their actions abroad. CNN does not serve to honor the sacrifice of Army Specialist Casey Sheehan but instead us his sacrifice as a sticking point to further the agenda of those who would spit on Army Specialist Casey Sheehan before shaking his had. Was he simply “killed in Iraq” or did he die in the service of his country? CNN has made their view and motive clear… Will you?
AZ