Give me pencils, or give me death!

This picture was forwarded to me by a friend. Labeled Photos too graphic for the media the email has about a dozen more photos like it. The general theme being U.S. soldiers being kind to kids.

When I saw my friend, I playfully scolded her about sending a foward burried inside 6 or 7 other forwards. Then I went on to explain my problem with the email.

While I can understand the frustration folks may feel about the "lack" of coverage about the nice things, the truth is that Iraq is in the midst of a Civil War (or the beginnings of one). The secterian violence is the story.

Don't be fooled just because the fighting is only concentrated in certain areas. Our own Civil War mostly occured in the South and never traveled very deep into the North. In fact, for a war to be called a war, there's never been anything that says the fighting has to cover X amount of area.

Many folks are still fighting the Vietnam propoganda machine that labeled American Soldiers baby killers. And the reality is, no matter what we report here, the Iraqis are going to think what they think. We don't read their newspapers to form opinions about events in the U.S. I sure as hell can't see the Iraqis doing the same.

And being liked isn't always the most important end in the world. (I'm not jumping on the pro-war band wagon if that's what you think.) The good Parents and teachers learn that lesson early. Apply a hand to a kids backside and of course they're going to hate you for a while. The worse thing you can do is try to "make" up for it. All that does is make the kid resent you more and respect you less.

If we're bombing and shooting the unholy sh*t out of Iraq to truly help the people, then we need to accept that reality they're going to hate us. Pencils and books aren't going to appease anyone.

Yet, let's say my friend's postion is right and let's apply Iraq's scenario to the U.S. If there were mass suicide bombings here in the states, would we still be distressed that the AJC didn't tell us about police officers handing out pencils and books on page one?