Veterans Day & Private Ryan

[Super Dave]

I imagine that most of you have seen Saving Private Ryan.  

It was a very powerful movie about the American landings at Omaha Beach in Normandy.

ABC will be broadcasting it without interruptions in full, uncut.

Anyway...

Locally, in Milwaukee, WISN 12, the ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, has decided that the film is a bit too much, claiming that the FCC is coming down on "violence and language" on TV.  

We've got "Far and Away" on tonight.  A nice film about settling in Oklahoma, I believe, with Cruise and Kidman.  Nice film, but I don't really think it has much relevance to this day, Veterans Day.

Saving Private Ryan has been on TV before in this format, uncut, no problem.

Yet we can have gay people on sitcoms saying A$$, cr@p, and whatever...that's no problem.

We can have a show called Wife Swap where the severely overweight swapped wife can say vulgarities that have to be bleeped.

Spare me your thoughts, WISN.

This is where I told them what I thought...

http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/insidewisn12/270707/detail.html

What's your ABC affiliate got on tonight?

[SVbadguy]

Saving Private Ryan will be shown in the DC metro area. WJLA

Another show worth watching tonight is "Last Letters Home: American Troops".  It is an HBO special.  As long as you have cable or satellite you can see it.  HBO is allowing it to be broadcast to all viewers regardless of whether they are subscribed to the network.


Travis  
SGT USMC '97-'03
Combat Vet

[Super Dave]

We are getting that...as Michelle Witmer was from the area and her letters from Iraq will be featured.  

She was an MP in Baghdad, she was killed.  I believe she was awarded the Bronze Star.  I well up quite a bit everytime I think about what she did in the name of freedom.

I'm glad you have "Ryan" in DC.

Feel free to tell WISN what you think.

[r1owner]

Not showing it here in STL either!  >:( ::)

I just read a story in Parade about a girl from New Berlin that was killed in Iraq.  Is that who you're referring to Dave?

My wife is from Waukesha which I believe is the next town over.

My brother left Iraq earlier this year after he was injured.  He was rappelling into some town at night when the helicopter he was in came under fire.  The pilot tried to maneuver and didn't notice the power lines that he drug the rappelling lines over.  It knocked all 4 people off the lines (including my brother).  His ankle was severly broken.

Took a couple of operations and several months to heal.  Had to wear a fixator on it for almost two months.

He guesses he fell about 30 feet in full combat dress.

Crazy bastard was actually bummed that he wasn't over there!  ???  But, he is part of a 5 man squad (EOD) and that is pretty much his whole life now, so it is understandable how he misses it.

He actually made the cover of Soldier of Fortune with this picture.



They incorrectly listed him as a Marine in this picture, he is really in the Navy.

All that said, I am of an age where I can understand what our veterans went through to keep freedom and truly appreciate it.  The fact that I spend the first 24 years of my life growing up in a military family (Air Force Father) probably gives me a lot more appreciate for the military person.

I sometimes wonder if todays young people understand what it was like to make the sacrifices these men and women made and are making today.  

God bless all our fighting forces!

[r1owner]

Another of my bro.



Link to pic of a Mosque that had some shells hidden behind it.
http://webpages.charter.net/myers3/karbala%20mosque.JPG

Image is 444K.

[tug296]

Thanking ALL Veterans Today.

[G 97]

Same in Green Bay:

"Saving Private Ryan" will not air tonight on Young Broadcasting Inc. television stations, including WBAY-TV 2/DT 23, due to concerns about the film's realistic portrayal of wartime images and language, amid recent FCC actions regulating broadcasting.


The same thinking doesn't seem to concern them with some of the other crap they air.  Should be interesting the next time their advertising dept contacts me inquiring about putting together some group TV ads. Lost the sale.

[251am]

 Recent FCC actions? Perhaps it hits a little too close to home and George's outlawing video/pics of KIA troops? Censorship from Washington? Naww  

[G 97]

Think.....Super Bowl halftime show.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Recent FCC actions? Perhaps it hits a little too close to home and George's outlawing video/pics of KIA troops? Censorship from Washington? Naww  

Thats law been around since Korea and/or Vietnam. No legitamate reason to take those pics in the first place.


And back on what Dave was saying. The FCC is a joke. Forbid a DJ says a 'bad' word or a tv station shows a pretty damn accurate movie depicting WWII, but yet Dennis Franz on NYPD Blue can show his fat a$$ on prime time TV and say a$$**** and sh*t in every script? Or why MTV can show Jackass at all?

Dont people realize theres up to 500 channels available to many households. Dont like whats on, CHANGE THE CHANNEL.

[251am]

  The law may have been around since 50s or 60s but George recently made sure it was more than enforced. And yes, it does relate to what Dave was saying. A direct reminder of troops dying is not what this admin. wants any of us to see, even if it's only a movie. To think that they are unrelated is foolish.
  There is a good reason to see bodybags coming home from overseas; it is a reminder that soldiers are dying for someone else's freedoms gained, or to be gained. It is a reminder to thank a living Veteran of their service by looking them in the eye, shaking their hand, and saying "Thank You for your service." Too many have NEVER heard those words. ABC and the FCC should be ashamed. >:(              

[Super Dave]

I think body bags are one thing.  That really is a private matter between the corps of the military brothers, and sisters, and families.  

Somewhere I read an article about a mother of a Marine who's mother had a plane flight that had the remains of a soldier on it.  The pilot made the announcement to the passengers.  At the time that everyone was to depart, a Marine guard met the plane and removed the Marine in an act of honor and respect.  

The common media has certainly made it commonly known how it thinks about things.  Arguing anything less is ridiculous.  I fully respect the Presidents ability to restrict that.

FCC otherwise?

Well, I don't expect to see Janet's bare fake t1tties during the Super Bowl.  The stunt was that...a stunt.  If you watch some shows, you know what to expect.  I can turn off Private Ryan if I don't want my kids to watch.  And it comes with a disclaimer.  The Super Bowl doesn't come with a nudity disclaimer does it?

And back again to Private Ryan...

ABC was airing it, but certain stations wouldn't show it...claiming the FCC problems.  

If that's the case...

I'll expect many stations not to show the Super Bowl come January.

You think that will happen?  

Ashamed?  ABC had it available.  FCC did what it needed to.  The afliates should be ashamed.  

I'll be waiting for my response...

Oh, and as for that pic of the mosque...Wow, we never had a church like that in Omaha when I was growing up!