| Author |
Message |
    
Paul E. Blais
Awareness Member
Post Number:
4
Registered: 01-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 06:04 am: |   |
I agree with Fraser. When my son was wounded at Khobar Towers nobody was interested for four years. Then I published his story through PA (woe is me), and might as well not have published it at all. The truth is, to sell, you need publicity and being attractive certainly doesn't hurt. The amount of publicity she received was most certainly obtained because of her looks and gender, nothing else. How many stories are being written about the other POWs from GWII? (Interesting, 'GW' could have a double meaning). Anyway, am I bitter? Yes, a little. On the other hand just because she was able to capitalize on her notoriety is no excuse for my feelings. After all, she did go through it. Now, if she could only remember what she actually went through. Makes book-writing difficult, don't you think?
P.E. Blais
Resurrecting Paul
Paul E. Blais
www.peblais.com |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2261
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 06:23 am: | |
Glad to see you, Paul. Yes, I often think about your fine book, your son, and you. Your book made a lasting impression on me and was so very well written.
YOURS is the kind of book that should have had a million dollar advance, the kind I want to read. It should be widely read. And YOURS is the book that Don Imus, CNN, MSNBC, Geraldo ET AL should be interested in reading. YOU and your son should be interviewed on every station.
I could rave on for hours, but won't. I simply encourage anyone who has not read it to read Paul's book, Resurrecting Paul, if you want a no doubt true picture of what wounded veterans and their families go through. Some of that 67 billion earmarked to rebuild Iraq should be spent on veterans and their families. |
pacwriter
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
891
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 06:31 am: | |
The central issue is MEDIA - there are no controls and there is integrety.
They sensationalize everything without any morals as to right or wrong.
I'm all for free speech but the has to be some responsibility with that freedom. When MEDIA is allowed to put lives at risk by throwing out speculation instead of facts, then it is time to curb their freedom. In the case of military lives being lost in the ongoing wars (Afganistan and Iraq) by MEDIA reporting and speculating freely, those reporters and producers should be held criminally responsible.
Before someone jumps on me -- consider all I advocate is FREE SPEECH and being accountable FOR THAT FREE SPEECH. If by reporting you are going to cost lives, or damage to others THEN you should be held accountable.
Jessica Lynch is an innocent. She became a hero by MEDIA not by her actions. She became a millionaire by default, that is, the book was going to be written with or without her consent. Her LAWYERS advised her to accept the contract. She suffered considerably by doing her duty. Before you say she doesn't deserve the money, consider what her life is like because of MEDIA. How many bad stories and speculation are being written about her character? Would you willingly subject your life to the MEDIA scrutiny she is enduring? Would you not want compensation for what that MEDIA is putting you through? I have yet to see her stand up and say, "Hey I'm a hero." |
Paul E. Blais
Awareness Member
Post Number:
5
Registered: 01-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:42 am: | |
Thanks Laurel. Gracious, as ever.
P.E. Blais
Resurrecting Paul |
Steven Shrewsbury
Wandering Member
Post Number:
204
Registered: 04-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:52 am: | |
I agree that he media rushed to make Lynch a hero.
If she were a man, this wouldn't be such a big deal. Was that sexist? No, just honest. That is the media swing on such things.
She had NO MEMORY of her captivity, I heard. Will the money loose her memory? Am I jaded? Probably.
My uncle Bud was with Patton when they found the Spear of Destiny. No book deal for that...all they got was a pic with Von Ribbentrop's car.
Media lies all the time. Word is the Iraqis are alot more accepting of us than the bits we see on TV. But we only see the crowds of dudes (doesn't anyone have a JOB over there?) out throwing rocks and screaming. Perhaps they are trying to convey the message they want for all fo America...minority rules.
Ask oneself WHY they lie and manipulate. That is a real fun one to contemplate. Most want no part of that reality.
|
Jennifer Lynn
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
816
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:44 am: | |
Okay, not throwing a monkey wrench into anything.. but where is the heroics? Just what did she do that was so much more heroic than any other soldier fighting in Iraq? She was in a convoy that got lost. She got captured. She was injured but survived. Big deal. The heros are the soldiers that went in and rescued her.
Jenn
(Message edited by jenniferlynn on September 08, 2003) |
Todd Hunter
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
669
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 03:39 pm: | |
Actually, somewhat separate from the main topic of this conversation (huge advance), but there was a fellow in a group of POW's (perhaps the same group as Lynch?) who had parents living near here. The local media made a very big deal over him returning home, because he was a "local hero" (even received a big parade). But I'm with Jenn on this one, although military service in itself is heroic, and surviving as a POW is heroic (though I feel those who went through Vietnam POW camps were far more heroic), the truth of the matter is they screwed up (and got lost) to get themselves into that mess in the first place.
Myself, I don't see why we don't treat all the folks who go over there as heroic...or even those who risked their lives for others (as those soldiers who went in for the rescue)...but it sends a really poor message when you reward carelessness and ignorance.
Just my opinion... |
Gloria Marlow
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
416
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 03:48 pm: | |
Maybe I worded it wrong when I said she deserved it...I meant she deserved it more than celebrities who are already rich, famous, etc. I have to admit, I saw the first news about her being rescued and have never watched anything more about it. I didn't know she was lost, didn't know she couldn't rememeber anything, didn't know much of anything. So maybe she wasn't a hero in the truest sense of the word, but it isn't like she was over there as a tourist so why isn't she as worthy as any other soldier over there? Because she's a woman, young and pretty? (now I sound like a darn women's libber which I'm the farthest thing in the world from being)
I agree with Pac...she really didn't have a choice. She was a celebrity whether she wanted to be or not. The media did it as soon as they got the first report of her.
People pray for miracles all their lives, they spend money every week on the lottery...Maybe she's just one of those who got their miracle. If she were my child, I wouldn't tell her to turn it down. It is her experience after all, to do with what she wants.
Gloria |
Steven Shrewsbury
Wandering Member
Post Number:
205
Registered: 04-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 04:33 pm: | |
Like she is really WRITING any of it.
All heroics and PC talk aside, when I think about folks getting book deals for this, or kneeling before Prez Clinton, it really burns my ass.
I'd rather not think about this anymore. It only will make me refelct on the hours I have spetn subbing poems, tales and tryign to build a name...so I can get an agent or a book deal...and they throw a million freaking dollars at someone who, well, can she write? |
Gloria Marlow
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
417
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 05:04 pm: | |
But the fact is she's not writing it and she's not taking the credit for writing it. What the pusblisher has done apparently is bought the story as she knows it and will tell it to Bragg. Yes she will be the one who reaps any royalties, but the actual author, who by the way is an actual author, will get part of the advance. I saw him on the book channel just a few weeks ago and thought I would like to read his book "All Over But the Shoutin'" If what they say is true about how much most authors really make on writing, he may be perfectly happy with a lump sum $500,000.00 and his name on the cover.
I'd be happy to write it for that.
Gloria |
EM (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 65.150.228.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 05:28 pm: | |
Why not donate the royalties to the Veteran Administration or another worthy cause involving the servicemen if the royalties are not going to the actual writer? Why should Jessica Lynch receive the royalties? Isn't $500,000 enough for Jessica...for doing nothing?
The whole thing smells. But this is the world of book publishing. It's all about profit and who you know.
By the way, Barnes & Noble is nolonger selling E-books from their site. |
Violet Towe
Wandering Member
Post Number:
211
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:48 pm: | |
Okay, I have a question on this book thingy.
How in the world will or could she tell what happened when she has stated several time she does not remember? I mean, hello? If a person can't remember what happened to them, the any story they write will be more fiction than fact, which I suspect this one will be.
I have no intentions of buying her little (or big) silly book full of God knows what ,but very little truth.
Violet |
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