Comments on: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith

By: Michael David Rubin

Michael David Rubin — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 14:09:04 +0000

Serious question: why, &/or how, do you does one continue living with a “liberal” wife? I ask, in this polarized age, to gain insight about a personal relation. I don’t think it’s trivial to recognize that partitioning one’s psychic life, Clinton-fashion, involves a kind of denial of reality, when adjoining compartments contain deeply opposed values. Does tolerance of conflicting views in the civic sphere also require hostility in the sphere of intimacy?

By: Jody

Jody — Fri, 27 May 2005 15:38:06 +0000

Found it. It was the St. Petersburg Times 3 months ago. And it wasn't a print spread, but a multimedia presentation. Highly recommended.

By: Jody

Jody — Fri, 27 May 2005 15:11:26 +0000

I was familiar with his story. I read it some time ago in print somewhere. It was quite a spread, complete with graphics illustrating the battle, but I don't recall any mention of a Medal of Honor, which makes me think that it predated the official announcement of the award. Sgt Smith's Medal of Honor was reported a couple of months ago in the New York Times.

By: j.scott barnard

j.scott barnard — Wed, 25 May 2005 19:23:42 +0000

I think I read about him over at Juan Cole and Daily Kos. Oh, wait… … …no I didn’t. Sorry. I did read one of the Daily Kos contributors, not Kos himself, say on the occasion of delivering the Medal of Honor into the hands of Smith’s 11-year-old son, that Bush was “pandering to militarism”. He goes on to question whether we should be giving the country’s highest award to someone who died in a war, rather than say someone who lived a life for peace, etc…(http://newdirection.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/4/5/12263/46022) As to your original post, you can bet ABC will report on this Medal of Honor winner. The report will only be about 2 seconds long as they read the names of all the war dead. No context will be provided. Just his name and rank. Because we don’t have time for heros anymore. Not unless they run away from their weddings or invite children to Neverland.

Off topic — for anyone who might be older than me, I’m in my thirties, was it THIS bad during Vietnam? The polarization, I mean. And the media bias. And the level of vitriol spewed at our nation’s leaders by the opposition and the wingnuts…?

I remember my father cussing for the first time in front of me. Abbie Hoffman appeared in some documentary or news segment. I laughed it off. But that’s now how I react when I see Michael Moore. –scott

By: Middleman in Central New York

Middleman in Central New York — Wed, 25 May 2005 18:58:32 +0000

Oh media, Oh Media

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith

Have you heard of this man? I had not either, until today.

By: Lex

Lex — Wed, 25 May 2005 12:37:15 +0000

James and Bruce — We should not have to read the milblogs or the blogospheric right to know about this man. But the fact that we even have milblogs and the blogospheric right is the only reason why you, and now I, finally, have heard of him.

By: James R. Rummel

James R. Rummel — Wed, 25 May 2005 08:43:29 +0000

But you have not heard of Paul R. Smith.

Some of us have. Those that read the milblogs, at any rate.

James

By: Bruce Chang

Bruce Chang — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:28:25 +0000

SGT Smith’s name is not a new one to readers of the blogospheric right. May he rest in peace.

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 25 May 2005 00:16:12 +0000

Thank you, Lex.
And thanks to Sergeant First Class Smith for what he did and what he was.

By: Richard Heddleson

Richard Heddleson — Tue, 24 May 2005 22:31:56 +0000

Newsweek has gone onto al-Jazerrra to recant its retraction of the story. It's a good thing they've got the first Amendment. I am beginning to wonder if they plan to test its precedence over Art III, Section 3 of the Constitution (Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.)?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 24 May 2005 21:52:22 +0000

Lex, your epitaph for Seargent First Class Paul R. Smith brought tears to my eyes. The injustice that our “news” media dealt to him makes me angry beyond words.

Thanks for publicizing this man’s honor. I would not have heard of him if I had not logged onto Chicagoboyz today.

At least our Pentagon, and our blogosphere have their priorities in the right place.
-Steve