Dear "ER" (the TV show)

Dear ER,

Tonight on your episode you showed the death of soldiers in Iraq in furtherance of your story line. You also showed the Casualty Assistance Officer and the Chaplin telling the widow of the soldier (a doctor) killed by the IED.

You also gratuitously showed two characters "go off" on the war in Iraq. One was in the midst of a psychotic episode as he assailed the CAO and Chaplin about the bushitler and cheneyhaliburton war machine... while the other character, raging out in anger at the death of his friend, spews something like, "Yeah, that's what America does best: war and prisons."

I was actually surprised to see the farewell video made by the soldier to his wife in which he tells her that he needed to go back to Iraq even though his wife didn't agree with his decision to go. Unfortunately, you missed the opportunity to tell WHY that soldier -- why our soldiers -- feel the need to "go back". About how they SEE the progress and good they do there.

So, "ER", I know it's probably asking too much that in your next (and season-ending) episode when you show the funeral and burial of an American Hero that died in service to his country -- a service for which he VOLUNTEERED and for which he gave his all -- that you might treat the soldier's death with respect and dignity... recognizing the valiant and noble effort of our American warriors. If you want to know what the funeral of a hero is like, you can read about The Funeral of SPC Tommy Byrd. I can probably count on there being no mention of the schools rebuilt, of the hospitals equipped, of the women and young girls no longer raped in Iraq's rape rooms, of the democratic elections and the adoption of a constitution. There will for sure be no mention of the murders of Iraqi civilians, of Iraqi forces, of elected officials by terrorists. Of course, there will be no mention of these things -- the things for which the soldier character on the show gave his life -- and for which real soldiers in real life give their lives. No, I guess I won't count on seeing those things or any mention of the good that has happened.

But it would be good for the writers, producers, et al. to remember that they speak English and not German or Japanese because "we do war so well"... and it's a given that when one of their Hummers or Ferraris or whatever vehicle they drive is stolen... or when someone holds a gun in their face... or stalks them... or threatens their families... I'm certain they would be thankful for the prisons then.

Yup... we do wars and prisons well. Also free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms... Yup, we do those well, too. I'd ask them not to forget it... nor forget the soldiers that defend those rights and freedoms. And occasionally they ought to mention them AND THEIR MISSION with honor and respect in their television show.

Copyright Some Soldier's Mom 2006. All rights reserved.