military – Page 12 – I Ain't Marching Anymore

and so it begins.

I may not have the luxury of time that some of my role models had, three years on a dissertation and THEN two years to make it sing (yes, Mr. Moser, yes, Mr. Joseph, I mean you). But by June 30, 2008, all these important and compelling stories, from William Bowser to Ricky Clousing, have to coalesce into a document that speaks to people. Which means, given my penchant for UGLY first drafts, I have to get serious.

the words of young men sounding old

I saw this op-ed piece, entitled “The War As We See it.”

If you didn’t notice from the bylines that the authors were active-duty sergeants, you’d know it from the measured, carefully damning opening.

I get it. Google "war critics," then jam together some quotes to support your thesis.

That God for other wonks who have the patience to deconstruct this. When I saw the item yesterday from the Associated Press, I couldn’t believe it. It’s sort of the opposite of what they taught us in journalism school. I thought the AP, of all things, stuck to actual reporting.

a jury of their peers

On the current war news front, I’m interested in the choices being made by the military jury in this case. Perry at the LA Times is careful to note that the jury was composed completely of Iraq veterans. I so wonder what was in their minds and hearts as they listened. P.S. That goes doubleContinue reading “a jury of their peers”

the wisdom of old men, not all of them dead

I learned while researching another story entirely that W.E.B. Du Bois was arrested for his anti-Korean War activism at age 83.

a few notes to start

I’d sworn off blogging after this graphomaniac exercise, but here we are. Today is typical. As I sit here, trying to sort out today’s work, between the transcription I need to finish for next week’s stories at the paper and my trip today to NYPL’s Schomburg Library, news old and new shouts for attention: TheContinue reading “a few notes to start”