Jessica Lynch - "Hero" of the Iraq War

[redlover1]

Guys and Ladies,

Am I wrong in thinking that Jessica Lynch, whether she wants it or not, is wrong to get this much attention and publicity for her role in the Iraq War? Don't get me wrong, I am happy she got rescued and is safe back home, but giving her $1 million dollars for a book deal (50/50 split to her and the writer) and all of the fame and gratuities that come with talk shows, TV Movies, etc. to me is plain wrong. To me that is a slap in the face to all of the other soldiers that are there or have died.
Case in point, do you EVER hear about the other soldiers that were rescued? What about the praise for those that have died? What is it now.... 150+ and still counting? Opinions?

Devin

[piqaboo]

I dont think Jessica is more of a hero than most. She is an excellent "feel good" symbol, and thats what I think is driving the publicity machine, which tends to ignore all the rest of the folks in her unit, who are DEAD heros.
I think its very unbalanced and insensitive to make her the hero. If we want/need a warm-fuzzy, why not the soldiers who carried out the rescue?
But they are not as cute and fragile looking as J.

[dkm32]

My family has been talking about this...and, all the other publicity she's been getting.

First, every soldier over there has probably had enough to write a book about. Some have stories a lot worse the Jessica's. She was treated nicely by her captors.

Second, what about the black gal...sorry, I can't remember her name...she was wounded! She was held captive in a far worse situation. She looked scared to death. The black gal went through, IMHO, more than Jessica did. In comparison, Jessica looked like she might have been partying. Where is the black gal's story? Where is her media coverage? Nowhere!

Sorry, a million dollars for something that a lot of other people suffered worst? NO!

[shostakovich]

Jessica is photogenic. Life is not "fair".

[piqaboo]

I think her name, the black soldier, is Shoshana.
She doesnt look frail, she looks like a strong woman, fear or no.

[OperaTenor]

Ever see Wag the Dog? 'Nuff said...

[barfle]

To be sure, there are plenty of stories to be told about our little adventures in Mesopotamia, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them were more interesting than Jessica Lynch's.

As I see her story, she joined the reserves to get enough money for college so she could make a little more of her life than her family history would suggest she would. I'm sure she knew it could turn into more than doing a little typing once a month, but I'm also sure she didn't believe it would. Then she's called up, sent overseas, and actually in harm's way. It's a more interesting story than my military stint.

She was seriously injured enough to receive a medical discharge. We don't know if her injuries will result in long-term problems for her or not. Is she a hero? Well, she did her duty, and a lot more than most. She certainly suffered as a result of doing that duty (I have no idea whose fault it was that they were lost and going too fast, but I find it hard to blame her for that).

Should other people get book deals, too? Yup, but I'm not running a book company, so I can't make the offer. I don't know how many books about a week or two as a POW we'll buy - certainly the stories from the VietNam POWs were beyond what happened in Iraq - but many of their experiences would be worthwhile reading.

[redlover1]

Shostakovich,

So what you are saying is that just because she is "good looking" and we needed a "national symbol", it gives her the right to gain fame and recognition over everyone else that got rescued or died over there? Kinda superficial but I guess the United States and Hollywood is all about being superficial for the fast buck. I guess when Hugh Hefner offered her $1 Million to pose for Playboy, the sign of the apocolypse being near is colser then we thought

Devin

[barfle]

I don't see any problem with her or anyone else taking as much advantage of the situation as possible. Heck, if I could get a megabuck (even splitting it with someone who knows how to write a book) for my life story, do you think I'd be doing something else?

Certainly, other stories should be told as well. Some of them are no doubt frightening, others will turn out inspiring. I would like to hear some near-first-hand accounts of just what went on. Maybe it would help explain why I feel so darned ambivalent about the whole episode in US History.
:confused:

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Devin, nobody is saying that JL has a "right" to anything more or less than any other service member. It's a random thing - the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate pointed to her, this time around. She has the sort of appearance that looks like one of "our kids" to a large slice of the book-buying public. She is slight, blond, and pleasant of face. Her books will sell this year, will go on sale on the mark-down table at Borders next year, and be in the Goodwill store the year after next.

This happens. It happens continually. Lawrence of Arabia was, um, unstable, erratic, eccentric, an unusual man. But part of his life made a great book and a wonderful movie.

Barry Sadler was a competent soldier. But he managed to make his Vietnam duty into a cool song that many folks bought, and then he spent years writing adventure novels loosely based on the song. Go figure.

Jessica Lynch is neither better nor worse than any other public icon to emerge from a conflict. She doesn't deserve fame any more than any other lost, captured, wounded, rescued soldier - but she's got it. It happens. Let's see what she does with it.

I probably won't buy the book, but two to one my husband will.

Regards,

Selma

[Serenity]

I'll wait 'til "Jessica Lynch - The Movie".

[Nicole Marie]

What the hell is she going to write about? She was knocked out for most of it and does not remember much, she told the press that when she came back. She's only 19 and has not been in the service long enough to write about anything. I'm not buying the book or seeing the movie, you know that's only a matter of time.

[Valerie]

If I were Jessica, I couldn't write the book or have a movie done - despite all the money being thrown at her and her family.

Now, if she is going to give all the families who have lost their loved ones the money, I might reconsider.

I guess I have too much integrity to be bought.

I'll just keep buying my powerball ticket twice a week and hope for the best

[Serenity]

I was being sarcastic...I change the channel when there is a newscast on her and any other hyped up story (which is most of the news). OJ? Don't care. Blackout? Don't care. Iraq?....what's the heart of the story?....uh, taking too long...forget it. It's very difficult to find short, to-the-point, unbiased news.

[Serenity]

Here's an idea for her...try "The Adventures of Jessica Lynch" comic book.

[OperaTenor]

Maybe a new PlayStation game: "Jessica Lynch - Desert Raider"?

[shostakovich]

Thanks, Selma, for pointing out that no one said she had a RIGHT to fame. My remarks may have been too cryptic. I blame the govt and the press for hyping her story. To the govt she makes a great poster girl for the military. To the press she was photogenic news (not only her looks, but being carried bravely on a stretcher). The hyped story made good reading. Truth is usually tweaked, at the very least, to make "news".

I'm with Stravinsky on not selling my life story, although I don't know if integrity is a big player in my case. I'm too used to getting along on a fixed income, and would be blown away by big bucks. Besides, would anyone want to see my sweet personality change? I think not!
As for my life story, itself, ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz.
Better to read the life story of the REAL Shos

[Shapley]

Have you ever seen the movie "The Outsider" with Tony Curtis? It tells the story of one of the soldiers, and American Indian, that raised the flag at Iwo Jimo. A true story, I believe, and a sad one.

Basically, they made a hero of someone who was not of heroic stature, because they needed a "national symbol". His story was not a happy one.

The more things change....

V/R
Shapley

[redlover1]

I guess the topic name should have been changed to: "Media and Fluff: How to make anyone a star for 15 minutes". Don't get me wrong guys, I am not upset or anything remotely close to it or saying J.L. doesn't DESERVE the fame or money. I guess after reading the posts, the blame should really be with the media raising the hoopla like they always do. I guess that's why Reality T.V. does so well..... the hype and attention real people get that they normally wouldn't.

Devin

[piqaboo]

We want and perhaps need heros.
Jessica,as well described in other's posts, fits the bill well,as she is easily marketed. She no more "deserves" the money than she "deserved" to get captured and damaged as result of a wrong turn. Luck falls both directions. I'd urge her to take the money. Perhaps she'll choose to use some of it to help others, perhaps not. I can only hope.

Other heros, subject of much debate lately, are those folks who tried to overpower the 9/11 highjackers. Recently, a report said they probably had no effect on the flight, or its final outcome. This has upset the heck out of parents, spouses, children, who seem to think that lack of success makes these folks less heroic. Isnt their heroism in seeing the situation, and trying to do something about it? They get my vote for heros, whether they didnt live long enough to unbuckle their seat-belts, or if they made it to the controls and nosed the plane in. They saw what was, not what they expected to see, and they acted accordingly. A rare, valuable and beautiful trait.