Four M’s

Media Matters versus Michelle Malkin:
 
I read several news blogs regularly, most of them conservatively-oriented.  I peruse Media Matters for America  because of its outstated liberal bias ("Support our fight against conservative misinformation"); I always try to get both sides of an issue, and I figure that there might be something worthwhile that the conservative bloggers at National Review Online and The Weekly Standard might miss.  Generally, I am underwhelmed with their honesty in reporting.
The latest article to "grace" their pages, however, was horrid enough to warrant special attention.  On Thursday and Friday of this week (12-13 April, 2007), Michelle Malkin sat in on Fox New's "The O'Reilly Factor" in place of Bill O'Reilly.  The headline for their article on the interview reads, "Malkin to Fox New guest: "Oh, geez.  Here we go with the 'blame whitey' again".  Media Matters goes on to present both video and a transcript of the interview to support their position that Michelle Malkin was on some sort of anti-black tirade.
HOWEVER
I saw the entire interview.  There are whole segments missing in which the interviewee (Opio Sokoni), among other things, directly attributes the foul language in hip-hop music to George Washington.  Entirely glossed over by Media Matters is the fact that Sokoni spent most of his time ascribing every evil in society to the racism of white people–in itself a racist idea.
The only thing that Media Matters got right with Michelle Malkin was electing NOT to cover her next interview, in which the leader of the "New Black Panthers" called her a prostitute–because she disagreed with him, and he is a defender of women!
Media Matters, of course, posts a whole lists links to Fox News and other organizations to protest Michelle Malkins' demeanor; everywhere, of course, except Malkins' own blog,  where you can find some of the comments that Media Matters edited out.
Personally, I applaud not only Michelle's position on these issues, but her uplifting combination of backbone and decorum when dealing with people who would silence her under the pretense of "political correctness."

—
Jason C. Diederich

Viet Nam

Dear Hannity & Colmes;
 
This evening on your show, Mr. Colmes made the statement that after the American withdrawal from Viet Nam, that country went on to become a thriving capitalist country.  Although I respect Mr. Colmes' right to state his opinion, I feel the need to point out that nearly four million people were politically executed following the Communist takeover of Viet Nam, and despite the implementation of free-market strategies, Viet Nam remains a staunchly communist country.  Additionally, certain minorities–such as the Montagnards, who are persecuted simply for refusing to give up the practice of Christianity–are routine robbed, beaten and tortured by their own government.  Further, they are prevented by their own government from addressing grievances to any international organization, including Amnesty International and the United Nations.

—
Jason C. Diederich

Email to Bill O’Reilly

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Jason Diederich <jason.c.diederich@gmail.com>
Date: Apr 12, 2007 12:36 PM
Subject: Imus and Free Speech
To: oreilly@foxnews.com

Mr. O'Reilly;

Did I miss something in the Imus case?  Does he hold some position of power over Rutgers University that requires their basketball team to hold a press conference over a reference to them as badly-coiffed prostitutes?  Was there a greater context to the message that wasn't reported in the coverage, which has lasted for more days than the reported offense has words?
I personally have be called much worse things than a "nappy-headed ho."  If we are going to endorse a revocation of any pretense of free speech in our country, rather than simply telling these women to get on with their lives, then I don't think that rap "artists" should be the conservative extension of the argument.  Let's go after people like Michael Moore, who continually refer to our armed forces in Iraq as "boys" and other euphemisms designed to disempower them (that is the pretext of the uproar over Imus' statement, correct?) by casting these modern heroes as victims and dupes.  Let's go after Bill Keller of the New York Times, who abused free speech by publicly revealing classified information, thereby doing irreparable damage to our national security.

—
Jason C. Diederich
Columbia, MO

—
SGT Jason C. Diederich, MOArNG

11 April 2007

I was perusing articles on Media Matters for America today, when I came across an article referring to Cindy Sheehan wearing a tee shirt depicting the current count of American servicemen KIA in Iraq, with the question, "How many more?" Apparently, the Baltimore Sun referred to it as "less patriotic" that a tee shirt worn by Beverly Young, stating "Support the Troops — Defending Our Freedom." Media Matters goes on to note, "Neither AP nor the Sun explained how decrying the deaths of more than 2,000 American service members indicated a lack of support for the troops or lack of patriotism." Since the folks at Media Matters are apparently incapable of processing the situation, I will sum it up. I will begin by stating, unequivocally, that I cannot imagine a more vile or reprehensible thing for a mother to do, than what Mrs. Sheehan has done to her son. She uses her own son's heroic sacrifice in the name of honor and human liberty to claim moral authority to denounce the very cause for which he fought. Further, she attaches that moral authority to people like Michael Moore, and organizations like United for Peace and Justice, who have explicitly stated that they believe that the people who killed her son were justified in doing so. I lack knowledge of any invective strong enough to condemn her. Now, on the subject of the patriotism of her shirt: what that shirt does, is give the illusion that the American servicemen fallen in Iraq are victims whom Sheehan is championing. What arrogance! These brave people do not need a champion-they are the champions of human life, liberty and dignity in face of inhuman cruelty. To denigrate her son-a hero who knowingly and willingly volunteered to put himself in harm's way to promote freedom and democracy abroad-by transforming him into a victim…this is the very opposite of patriotism. Patriots honor the memory of fallen heroes. Patriots volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to promote the best ideals of their community, and to defend their community from harm. I cannot imagine how anyone would be confused regarding the patriotism of Cindy Sheehan's continued denigration and victimization of the U. S. Armed Forces. Sincerely,

Jason C. Diederich

Work is going well…

I won't bore everyone with the insane nonsense coming from the Democratic Party; you can catch them on Fox News. I had a personal "stressor" this week; apparently, my home unit (2175th MP) had no paperwork regarding my transfer to JFHQ, but rather than letting me know, they were just going to let me get charged with missing movement (unusual for the National Guard, but part of the new CO's policy letter). I only found out that I had no reason to clean out my locker this week AFTER I made the 105 minute trip to Hannibal to do so. I was pissed. Anyway, that's all been straightened out, and I am officially drilling in Jefferson City this weekend. Even better, after drill on Monday I'm making my final run of looking at houses! When I first arrived at the JOC I sat down and made a proposal for a major revision of the COP, which is the primary product of our office. MAJ Hiland, my fist line supervisor, finally had the opportunity to brief LTCOL Davis about my suggestions (I made a great visual aid, too). I am told that the colonel not only signed off on it, he EMPHATICALLY liked it. I've just finished making the revisions, which should result in much shorter and clearer presentations. Finally, and I could be misreading this, but I believe that there is an E-6 position available at JFHQ, so the plan apparently is to promote me as soon as the new promotion slots come out so that I can be permanently transferred here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Jason C. Diederich

Real Message from Iraq

Fox News today hosted LtCol Fecher (sp?), a survivor of the Blackhawk Down incident in Mogadishu, who has just returned home from nine months in Iraq.  Lt Col Fecher says that the media reports of Iraq are way off mark; that despite battle-weariness, troop morale remains high; that Iraqi police are coming along strongly and that insurgent capabilities have been strongly diminished.  Most importantly, he opines that a timetable for troop withdrawal will be devastating to both our overseas policy and national security.
Thank God someone is airing an experienced opinion.

— 
Jason C. Diederich

This morning on my way to work, I heard an advertisement from Senator McCaskill's office regarding the ACLU's new "Restoring the Constitution Act," which allegedly is designed to restore certain constitutional rights which were disregarded by the USA PATRIOT Act. Here is my response:

"Dear Senator McCaskill:

This morning on my way to work, I heard your advertisement for the "Restoring the Constitution Act." I am leery of supporting any bill sponsored by the ACLU; I do not trust any entity which sues people strictly for revenue, especially when they specialize in suing the Boy Scouts of America. However, I would be willing to support the Restoring the Constitution Act, with the following caveats: 1. I must restore rights to all American citizens, without special regard for certain groups as the ACLU is often wont to do. 2. It must restore the entire Bill of Rights, including: a. The right to Free Speech, over political correctness and government censorship b. The right to Freedom of Religion, over the idea of freedom *from* religion c. The right of the individual to keep and bear military-grade firearms (as would be carried in a well-regulated militia), over bans such as H. R. 1022."

Jason C. Diederich

H. R. 1591

Nanci Pellosi led a vote to withdraw the troops from Iraq today, winning by a slim margin. A quick perusal of the bill demonstrates that votes were bought with barrels and barrels of "pork"–from money for peanut storage to rent assistance. I am unable to paste a working link directly to the bill for some reason, but the full text of the Democratic party's bid to aid and support our enemies can be found by following the link below and typing "H. R. 1591" in the search block:

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Jason C. Diederich