Salena Zito gets it right
There’s an article in the Hill this morning written by Salena Zito, a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial page columnist, who makes me eat my words the last few days in reference to journalists. Zito writes Blaming the military for police shootings is too easy;
Yes, it is likely they [the Baton Rouge and Dallas murderers] made their weapon and ammo choice, acquired their marksmanship skills, and selected their firing positions from which to murder and wound law enforcement officers based on their training.
[…]
[I]t is too great a leap right now to assume they also acquired their hate and their mindset to commit a despicable crime from their service.
To do so would perpetuate an inaccurate, unfair, and damaging stereotype that is constantly playing in entertainment and the media and negatively impacts today’s veterans.
Zito continues that there is a sense of brotherhood between the military and law enforcement in our shared commitment to duty and service.
If anything, veterans feel as though we are kindred spirits to first responders they have the “home game” and the military has the “away game”…lifestyle, family issues, the need for fitness, expertise, resilience and professionalism are similar in many ways.
[…]
We also know that many of today’s law enforcement officers also serve in the Reserve and the National Guard.
It seems unlikely and it’s insulting to veterans that people in the media would blame our military service for the actions of two cop-murdering cowards. Zito quotes Major General Anthony Cucolo; “I guarantee you that inside most – if not all — veterans is a feeling that these deaths [in Baton Rouge and Dallas] are a family loss.”
Category: Media
BZ Miz Zito.
It is nice to find a rational journalist. They are so rare, unfortunately.
A hat tip to you Ms. Zito, kudos.
Good stuff!
Well said, in simple plain terms. Place the blame where it should be. Thank you Ms. Zito!
Well said, Ms. Zito. You got it right, and did so in a fair manner.
Well-done rebuttal of the LSM’s lame opinions.
A fair number of us in law enforcement are former military. When I was training new recruits, the best ones I had were prior service, no matter what the branch or MOS.
Back in the dark ages when I started, the majority of us were veterans. It just seemed like a natural progression from the military to another uniform.
True dat! The best deputies I ever hired were former military. Hands down! If nothing else they understood the chain of command concept and did not question every friggin order!
KUDOS to you, Ms. Zito! You’re a breath of clean fresh air among the effluvia that the rest of the mess media publishes.
I was told all us Vietnam vets were nuts.
Except for the nurses – they usually were the other gender.
I see what you did there Graybeard.
Nice.
Hehehe
The verbal insults have given way to
whispers and silent innuendo. I hear it every time someone thanks me for my service.
While a “thank you for your service” is definitely preferable to being called a baby-killer, you have a point.
In a culture where people are generally unwilling or unable to defend themselves or their own interests (foreign and domestic), it’s really not too surprising. If YOU are willing to defend those interests, at great risk and with a gun no less, then there most be something wrong with you in their eyes.
And so once again a light shines through the darkness and reveals that all is not yet lost, and that some understand and won’t be silenced.
Thank you, nicely done.
Outstanding piece from someone who gets it. She should forward that piece to every member of Congress, for starters. The pols know a good thing when they see it. Some would latch on to the key points and use them well. That’s exposure and one way things catch on.
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