Iwo Jima Veterans Blast Time's 'Special Environmental Issue' Cover

[dread]

Iwo Jima Veterans Blast Time's 'Special Environmental Issue' Cover


http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080417171532.aspx

Lt. John Keith Wells, the leader of the platoon that raised the flags on Mt. Suribachi and co-author of “Give Me Fifty Marines Not Afraid to Die: Iwo Jima” wasn’t impressed with Time’s efforts.



“That global warming is the biggest joke I’ve ever known,” Wells told the Business & Media Institute. “[W]e’ll stick a dadgum tree up somebody’s rear if they want that and think that’s going to cure something.”

 

[Swamp Fox]

Green is actually the new socialism. It's just a new way to pass all of the socialist ideas into law.

 

[KungFusion]

Why are war heroes always such retards?

 

[TopGunna]

For those who haven't seen it, Time Magazine's cover features a doctored photograph - the famous Iwo Jima photo of the Marines raising the American flag. The headline is "How to Win the War on Global Warming," and in to doctored photo, ther marines are raising a tree to be planted.

Iwo Jima veterans were none too pleased.

Donald Mates, an Iwo Jima veteran, told the Business & Media Institute on April 17 that using that photograph for that cause was a “disgrace.”

"It’s an absolute disgrace,” Mates said. “Whoever did it is going to hell. That’s a mortal sin. God forbid he runs into a Marine that was an Iwo Jima survivor.”

According to the American Veterans Center (AVC), Mates served in the 3rd Marine Division and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima, landing on Feb. 24, 1945.
“A few days later, Mates’ eight-man patrol came under heavy assault from Japanese forces,” Tim Holbert, a spokesman for the AVC, said. “During fierce-hand-to-hand combat, Mates watched as his friend and fellow Marine, Jimmy Trimble, was killed in front of his eyes. Mates was severely wounded, and underwent repeated operations for shrapnel removal for over 30 years.”

...

“Global warming may or may not be a significant threat to the United States,” Holbert said. “The Japanese Empire in February of 1945, however, certainly was, and this photo trivializes the most recognizable moment of one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. history. War analogies should be used sparingly by political advocates of all bents.”

You can fine the whole article here:
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080417171532.aspx

 

[Truthmatters]

I just dont understand why they would be angry?

It a very big and important issue so its not trivializing the sacrafice they made that day.

Without winning the inviromental "war" this country will be in very big trouble.

 

[dread]

Please cite proof of that.

And no...Using the picture on time magazine IS NOT proof that they are retards. Would YOU like YOUR picture being used for someone elses political bullshit that YOU didnt agree with?

No you wouldnt!

 

[doeton]

ya know. I agree i think it was in bad taste.

 

[KungFusion]

quacks like a duck

 

[TopGunna]

I feel like this photo could somehow be used to promote an end to illegal immigration.

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2001/breaking-news-photography/works/eliansma.gif

Of course, somethings tells me that would be distasteful though.

 

[KungFusion]

now there's a good use of govt resources

 

[dread]

quacks like a duck

It figures you couldnt provide proof.



Just because you are a chicken shit, pussy , mother fucker, can't hold a job down asshole, DONT EVER knock a persons service to their country.

 

[KungFusion]

Yeah, okay - since you know me so well.

Just because you are a chicken shit, pussy , mother fucker, can't hold a job down asshole, DONT EVER knock a persons service to their country.

way to prove me wrong, apeman.

 

[The_Hammer]

This old geezers are the last of a dying breed of real heroes and people who truly have strength and fortitude. Their sacrifice needs to be respected. Time screwed up when they did that.

 

[BrianH]

I just dont understand why they would be angry?

It a very big and important issue so its not trivializing the sacrafice they made that day.

Without winning the inviromental "war" this country will be in very big trouble.

Well, it's kind of like that animosity that blacks feel against whites because of the past of this country. The same type of emotion is there with Veterans when they see adolph hitler figurines or nazi flags. I think they're angry because someone has taken a photo of something significant and emotional for these Veterans, and turned it into something that it's not.

It would be like a photo-shopped picture of the WTC collapsing, but instead of seeing debri coming off of them, you'd see flower pedals, and the issue would be about environmental collapse because of humans. It's just too close of a topic for alot of people, something we won't understand because we were not on Iwo Jima. Maybe they feel like by using it to portray something else, it's taking away from the sacrifices those guys made. If I'm not mistaken, I think the majority of the guys in the picture were killed not long after in the fighting.

 

[TopGunna]

It's a very political issue, and I can understand the veterans not wanting an image of the heroics to be manipulated for promoting a political cause.

While greenhouse gas theory is settled science, the impact of increasing CO2 concentrations from 280 ppm to 380 ppm n an incredibly chaotic climate system is not. But that's a topic for another thread.

I can completely understand not wanting to be the poster child for an alarmist movement, against a "problem" that will probably end in a catastrophe similar to the "Y2K" bug armageddon.

 

[nyctitropic]

If I may - I'm going to go ahead and posit that KungFusion wasn't offering his query in attempt to disparage anyone with a record of service to this country; rather that he was in actuality lamenting the fact that the supposed elite in that category -- those who have served most valiantly, upon whom we should look with admiration and respect; those whose unique perspectives give them a voice on many issues that we should want to strain to hear -- often come across as intellectually deficient to quite a remarkable degree.

When asked to speak about his objection to the magazine cover, this war hero, who we're supposed to revere, can't come up with a better argument (or even heart-tugging sentiment) than "The second World War we knew was there." and "We'll stick a dadgum tree up his rear..."?? If you served in the military, and especially if you were a veteran of Iwo Jima, would you want those words to represent you? It's unfortunate for everyone that this is the best this guy could do, and I can't fault KungFusion for his commentary.

Even if KungFusion wasn't going that deep and was simply being cheeky, so what? If someone serves in the military, they're forever and ever off-limits as subjects of criticism? Even the humorous, ironical kind?

 

[Angel Heart]

I can see why the vets are pissed. I'm pissed and hurt but... If I expect my freedom of speech protected, I must protect theirs. It's what our country was founded on. I will defend their right to offend me... Since when do I have the right not to be offended.

 

[TheGoodShepherd]

Please cite proof of that.

And no...Using the picture on time magazine IS NOT proof that they are retards. Would YOU like YOUR picture being used for someone elses political bullshit that YOU didnt agree with?

No you wouldnt!

It's not their picture bucko. It's taxpayer property.

 

[Ravi]

It's not their picture bucko. It's taxpayer property.

Very true. I had to laugh at the guy that said it was a mortal sin.

 

[doeton]

It's not their picture bucko. It's taxpayer property.

i don't think issue was 'could they' use the picture.

the issue is was it respectful to WWII vets?