When you take a few moments to cast your minds back through life’s experiences, things which you thought at the time meant so much to the safety of you, your family and those around you, have little consequence when you consider the situations our country is in today with respect to our Armed Forces.
Problem is, I can still see myself sitting with my friends ‘passed’ and present outside the local shops on the estate where we lived, watching others protest on their motorcycles to try and keep speeding cars at lower speeds.
The problem was that some of these people are not with us now, and I still find myself taking a few moments and thinking about what they would do to bring the media attention to spotlight such problems.
To: Present Day
Personally, I don’t mind holding my hands up in saying; “every now and again, something gets placed on my desk which takes my attention like a flashing beacon.” This, due to the nature of the beast, can also be good news as well as bad.
And no matter what it seems to be, we focus our attention on the job in hand, and write short extracts for you, the reading public, to read and digest over a coffee and a cigarette, maybe?
Yet the opposite side of the coin is pretty unbalanced, when you consider the other people and stories which get missed.
Why? Because the media in general can be a strange industry, with most of the time they (or we) getting so focused with what distributes and profits. This can sometimes mean we miss the points which are probably the most important, and by far closer to home.
This week alone, I have seen article after post about general media which in fairness, should be treated with absolutely no respect what so ever – and Lindsay Lohan is a prime example of what I mean.
Over the last few months, this one person has probably taken more space in any publication, be it on the internet or in black and white, than any other main stream topic next to the future (potential) Prime Minister of the UK, or the negotiations of settlements for Palestinians.
And for what? Because she takes drugs, breaks the law and earns millions for it.
So, let us take a few minutes and reflect on one missing piece to this jigsaw – ‘because we seem to be forgetting the people who are placing themselves on the front line to complete or accomplish something which they are instructed to do, and which was not exactly by choice.
Yes, I hear the people at the back who shout, “why did they sign up if they didn’t want to fight?”
But at the same time, why should we forget them and place celebrity focus on someone who has broken the law, been prosecuted on many occasions for the same offence and is not exactly an outstanding member of society right now?
As for me, I can publish the fact that I am slightly embarrassed at the thought of forgetting those who have protected Queen and country, and have lost their lives in the process.
Time to stand back and take stock for a second, close your mind off to the world and spare a thought to those who have not only lost their lives this last few day’s / weeks or years – but their families who miss them dearly.
Here are just a few names of those who have sacrificed life, and our wishes go out to the families of: Justin Allen 23, Brett Linley 29, Matthew Weikert 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Chase Stanley 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew Johnson 21, Zachary Fisher 24, Brandon King 23, Christopher …Goeke 23, and Sheldon Tate 27 are all Marines that gave their lives this week with no media mention.
Afghan Heroes Mothers Day 2010 - Wootton Bassett
And if words can not portray the picture, take a second to think why over 10,000 bikers took part in the “Mothers Day” event in Wootton Bassett – was it just for the ride, or were they just speaking out in the way they know best? The picture to the right was taken from this event, which was, according to 99.9% of attendee’s, a complete breath of fresh air cast over a somewhat dark day.
Shame the Daily Mail Reporter didn’t think about that before he classified every one of them as a ‘petrol spewing, gas guzzling over weight biker’ in his post the following day!!
A huge amount of respect is given to ALL of these people, their loved ones, and their families too.
“On behalf of the country, we thank all of our Armed Forces for what they do, because without them, we would probably be in slightly different world right now.”
