It isn’t the least bit interesting, and I’m doing it just so that I have a record – and so that I keep track of myself and motivate myself – but I am keeping a fitness diary. Just in case you’re like a wild stalker and are fascinated by how many minutes I spend pedaling.
Not Good
February 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Yesterday I read on the online news about the British tank that American soldiers inadvertantly shot, and the video that had just been released. Teh intrawebs, in classic selective-information fashion, really played up the line where the American pilot’s apparent first reaction was that they were all going to jail. I was horrified, and I was disgusted that this was our first reaction – as these news outlets wanted me to be. It painted a very dark picture of these particular American soldiers.
Then I watched the video on the news last night, and as it turns out, “we’re in jail, dude” was far from the first or only utterance in those unwinding moments. From what I understand, the American pilots asked, and were told that there were no friendlies in their area. (Ground control says, “That is an affirm. You are well clear of friendlies,” according to the transcript.) After they shot, and learned that they’d fired upon a British tank, their comments echo more despair and horror than fear for their own personal safety. The transcript doesn’t indicate the clearly audible sobs caught on video:
Pilot 1: “I’m going to be sick.”
Pilot 2: “Ah f–.”
Pilot 1: “Did you hear?”
Pilot 2: “Yeah, this sucks.”
Pilot 1: “We’re in jail, dude.”
It’s a horrible situation all the way around. The British military, and Lance Cpl. Matty Hull’s family, now know for certain the horrible truth about this man’s death. Our government and military – and consequently, on an international scale, our entire nation – have probably been tainted by the apparent coverup. And these Americans, the ones who were responsible – not only the pilots, but the ground control personnel, I’d imagine – have got to be traumatized by this. It has to be hard enough of a psychological thing to kill anyone – can you imagine living the rest of your life knowing you killed one of your allies? The guilt? What a terrible, terrible thing.
Then, as if it couldn’t get any worse from my point of view, it turns out they were from Boise.
Sigh.
Completely unrelated: this is kind of touching and weird. Thanks, MBL76 - good links today.
Categories: Boise State
Not Good
February 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Yesterday I read on the online news about the British tank that American soldiers inadvertantly shot, and the video that had just been released. Teh intrawebs, in classic selective-information fashion, really played up the line where the American pilot’s apparent first reaction was that they were all going to jail. I was horrified, and I was disgusted that this was our first reaction – as these news outlets wanted me to be. It painted a very dark picture of these particular American soldiers.
Then I watched the video on the news last night, and as it turns out, “we’re in jail, dude” was far from the first or only utterance in those unwinding moments. From what I understand, the American pilots asked, and were told that there were no friendlies in their area. (Ground control says, “That is an affirm. You are well clear of friendlies,” according to the transcript.) After they shot, and learned that they’d fired upon a British tank, their comments echo more despair and horror than fear for their own personal safety. The transcript doesn’t indicate the clearly audible sobs caught on video:
Pilot 1: “I’m going to be sick.”
Pilot 2: “Ah f–.”
Pilot 1: “Did you hear?”
Pilot 2: “Yeah, this sucks.”
Pilot 1: “We’re in jail, dude.”
It’s a horrible situation all the way around. The British military, and Lance Cpl. Matty Hull’s family, now know for certain the horrible truth about this man’s death. Our government and military – and consequently, on an international scale, our entire nation – have probably been tainted by the apparent coverup. And these Americans, the ones who were responsible – not only the pilots, but the ground control personnel, I’d imagine – have got to be traumatized by this. It has to be hard enough of a psychological thing to kill anyone – can you imagine living the rest of your life knowing you killed one of your allies? The guilt? What a terrible, terrible thing.
Then, as if it couldn’t get any worse from my point of view, it turns out they were from Boise.
Sigh.
Completely unrelated: this is kind of touching and weird. Thanks, MBL76 - good links today.
Categories: Boise State
Gabrielle
February 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment
I’m having a little bit of a hard time seeing this photograph objectively, because I know the context. If you’re feeling in the mood for a little interpretation, y’wanna tell me what you think? Like, what you think is happening, what it makes you feel? I’d like to see this fresh, through someone else’s eyes, for a moment.
Categories: Friends and Family · Photographs
