Greetings from Nancy in Lutz, FL:

“I was channel surfing a few nights ago and landed on an interview on Fox News Channel with Teri’s father, Mr. Schindler. Hannity was interviewing (leading him on?) him. I swear I heard Schindler say, in response to Hannity’s question about why Michael, Teri’s husband, would want her dead, that (this is too much): Michael wants to kill her because if she lives and gets better and can talk, she will point the finger at Michael about what happened the night she collapsed. He went on to say that after the paramedics were called, the police were called, and the police report cites “attempted homicide” but it was NEVER investigated!!!!! Huh? This is totally nuts.

“The right-wing nuts are using these poor Schindlers who are more than willing to be used. They do not care about Teri at all. When Teri finally gets relief and dies, the people who are using the Schindlers will drop them flat–the Schindlers will retire into their private grief, the vulture news media will say “next,” and that will be the end of the story. Remember Elian Gonzales? All that hype and craziness? Same phenom. After this is over, Michael should sue the Schindlers for smearing his name.

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WRITES AFTER THREE YEARS

EUGENE DURAN: “Danny, it has been at least three years since you have heard from me. I used to email you comments all the time until I decided… All was hopeless. I have kept briefed by others regarding your comments but I thought for sure Bush would lose. I guess even I underestimated the power of my fanatical brother so reminiscent of the Taliban. I watch much news but continue to have to go online to get anything more comprehensive. I find it interesting that recently several others have mentioned blogs and what an impact they are having. Is not mediachannel one of the original “blogs”? I went to Fahrenheit 911 and it was great. I can only imagine WMD is better. I only wish people other than “the Choir” were watching. Why is it that it seems we are on a course with destiny and it seems the more we fight and try to stop it the more solid the situation becomes? Why does it seem better to prepare for the inevitable than fight the intolerable? Keep it up Danny.”

RESPONSE TO CRITICISM OF BRADLEY LAING’S LETTER ATTACKING IRAQ INSURGENTS:

Bradley writes back: “I assumed that the insurgents are mostly local guys fighting against the U.S. troops as alien outsiders, and that *before* the 2003 invasion, none of them cared enough about the kinds of democratic ideals I like– say, voting, parliaments, written constitutions, the consent of the governed or “no taxation without representation” to ask for American help in achieving this.

“If the guys who go on web sites with hostages taken in Iraqi are the “insurgents,” I don’t think they believe in any of the above. Instead they declare themselves God’s Agents on earth, and they don’t talk about the rights of Men and Citizens.”

HOW THE MILITARY MOBILIZES POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE WAR BY RALLYING AMERICANS BEHIND THE TROOPS

Joe Dunphy writes

” I came across the “America Supports You” site while doing some volunteer work for my old Army unit’s family support group. I wrote an e-mail in support of the troops, and figured that was that. Some days later, I get a dog tag in the mail, which says “America supports you,” and a nice letter indicating a partnership between Stars and Stripes newspaper and the Defense Dept. No surprise there.

“But with all the loyalty oath business at Bush’s town meetings, I wonder what’s being done with the names and addresses collected on the website. I’m retired Army, so they already know very well who I am. But, since things are so politicized, one wonders whether there is a presumption that those who write in support of the troops are likely Bush supporters. Big mistake in my case. My pope opposes the war, and before he said anything I had figured out that this was just another power grab for oil. I knew that once Colin Powell held up a drawing of a truck in front of the UN–something I have never seen done in any intell briefing–I knew absolutely the whole thing was bogus.

“But anyway, we should pay attention to a significant fact–it’s not just Fox News, it’s not just the fake journalists, it’s not just the PR laden video news releases. The US government is waging its version of a “Total Information War” against the American People. This would explain the absolutely total overreaction to the Clark Kent style protests at the Democratic National Convention. What the progressives counter-act with facts, the information
warriors drown out with volume.

“Two years after the start of the war, everyone now knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was begun under totally false pretences.We have genuine war criminals in charge, and they are in charge of a well trained armed forces. And they are the paymaster of a considerable number of soldiers-of-fortune. This is why we should pay more attention to the issue of the International Criminal Court.

He includes a press release from the Defense Department:

American Forces Press Service

March 24, 2005 - The Grand Ole Opry has announced its partnership with the Defense Department’s “America Supports You” program, an ongoing nationwide program to showcase and communicate America’s support to the men and women of the armed forces.

MY INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE CRITICIZED

Art Jassman writes:

“I am writing to express my disappointment in the email received today(March 24) regarding the discussion on the Terry Schiavo case. While I have no objection to making fun of certain members of the ultra-conservative base, I don’t believe it will help our cause to lump all the citizens of Florida into a clueless group of Floridians (Flori-duh). And as annoying and misinformed as Ann Coulter is, I think it is unproductive to describe her as “big mouth.” Yes, she is, but it’s just the choice of language. Why not come up with a descriptive that is more mature and less kind? I completely agree with that characterization, but it reminds me of Middle School.”

DS: I am sure many of the people mobilizing for Terri are sincere and I certainly don’t want to insult them. The political opportunists should be challenged.

Isabel Lacer writes from Spain to correct a fact:”Julio Anguita Parrado was an embedded journalist who went with American troops and died shoot by iraqui ´s resistance in Baghdad

AMY ON THE ROAD

“Amy Goodman, host of the nationally broadcast daily radio/TV news hour Democracy Now!, is launching the Un-Embed the Media! Tour. Goodman is celebrating independent media and the paperback release of her best-selling book, The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media that Love Them.

“The kickoff events of Un-Embed the Media! Tour begin on 3/28 in New York City, 3/29 in Houston, 3/30 in Washington DC, 3/31 in Los Angeles, and 4/1 in San Francisco. To learn more about Democracy Now! and find out when Goodman is coming to your area, visit www.democracynow.org or call (800) 999-6761.

DISSECTOR IN THE NEWS

Thanks to Deborah Emin for a sensitive profile in New York’s Gay City News out on the streets today

Excerpt: “Listening to Schechter talk was like walking into a room where a seminar has been going on for several years. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t there when the course began. No matter when I might have entered the room, there was always going to be something fascinating to learn. The man bleeds the news; he is able to articulate the issues in their fullest context and while he is talking, you can hear how respectful of people he is as well. He won’t bash anybody, no matter what his private thoughts are; critical comments about people are not part of his discourse.”

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_412/whatmakesdannyrun.html

“Bleeding the News?” I guess.

Have A Good Friday, Happy Easter and Great Weekend.

You can feedback to dissector@mediachannel.org