Interesting 10-hour PBS special begins tonight. "Carrier, Life aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz"

[A HERETIC I AM]

A documentary film crew embarked on the Nimitz for an entire 6-month deployment. The first installment is to air tonight at 9:00 PM Eastern; Episode 1 "All Hands".

The film crew followed a handful of the more than 5000 crew members on board during the entire 6 month deployment to the Middle East, from their departure from San Diego to calls in Pearl Harbor, Guam, Hong Kong, Perth - Western Australia and others.

Looks to be an interesting series.


http://www.pbs.org/weta/carrier/

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. It's a floating city

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. A floating city with an airport on the roof!

These vessels just absolutely fascinate me. It could be argued that they are a colossal waste of money but it seems this documentary is along the lines of Human Interest Story, as opposed to glorification of a weapon of war.

[Rex]

3. Colossal waste of money or military capital able to reshape the planet.

People really downplay the power of these huge battle groups. And I know why.

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. I'm gonna watch.

[Radio_Lady]

67. Some of these young people escaped terrifying family situations... and joined the Navy for the

structure, discipline, financial, and educational benefits.

Let's hope they have a better future because of their service.

Blessed be,

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[savgpncl]

92. Highly doubtful...

Prison with a paycheck.

[izquierdista]

4. No thanks

I don't want to see anything, hear anything, learn anything about the latest goings on of America's Wehrmacht. Unless they turn it into a hospital ship and cruise into American ports and take care of people with no health insurance. That I would watch.

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. Cool! Have a great evening.

[Red Zelda]

7. Absolutely agree

with what you said. Thanks.

[roody]

8. de acuerdo!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. The old World War II veteran who lived in my apartment bldg. in Portland

called TV documentaries like that "recruiting films."

In any case, I don't watch The Real World or any other reality shows. So what if it's on an aircraft carrier? Same type of stuff, I bet.

Besides, I'm annoyed that PBS is devoting almost a whole week of prime time to this glorification of military hardware.

I think it will be a good week to catch up on my DVDs.

[defendandprotect]

22. Agree . . .

And, anyone who doesn't understand that corporations --- especially oil companies --- have
had great influence over PBS in the past decades --- please think again!

[shanti]

46. pbs

their programming has really changed over the last 8 years! lots more religious programming too.

[truedelphi]

61. I rarel;y watch PBS. Luckilypeople on DU post reminders

Abt some good things like the Bill Moyers shows - but most of the PBS stuff is so benign or so
boring that I can't bring myself to watch it.

Thank goodness for HBO and its John Adams series - there was something I thought rather fine.

[taterguy]

12. The Wehmacht was Germany's army

There are no army troops stationed on an aircraft carrier.

[izquierdista]

15. Minor technicality

I apologize if I confuse one fascist war machine with another. Is the difference apparent to the victims?

[Pavulon]

17. They must teach dumbass these days..

Please do not attempt to compare the US with NAZI Germany. The people on your left (in your post) would see the post (and many here) led to your death. The people on the right are criminals.

It is tremendously ignorant to make the comparison and any person who has a shred of common sense and historical context will roll that line of argument in to a newspaper and whomp you with it for the logical equivalent of pissing on the carpet..

[JohnyCanuck]

18. Still, in a war to control other coutnries' resources,

the US military's swell bunch of all-American fly-boys does shit like this:

{b]The 'good war' is a bad war

In his latest article for the New Statesman, John Pilger describes how the invasion of Afghanistan, which was widely supported in the West as a 'good war' and justifiable response to 9/11, was actually planned months before 9/11 and is the latest instalment of 'a great game'.

SNIP

Acclaimed as the first “victory” in the “war on terror”, the attack on Afghanistan in October 2001 and its ripple effect caused the deaths of thousands of civilians who, even more than Iraqis, remain invisible to western eyes. The family of Gulam Rasul is typical. It was 7.45am on 21 October. The headmaster of a school in the town of Khair Khana, Rasul had just finished eating breakfast with his family and had walked outside to chat to a neighbour. Inside the house were his wife, Shiekra, his four sons, aged three to ten, his brother and his wife, his sister and her husband. He looked up to see an aircraft weaving in the sky, then his house exploded in a fireball behind him. Nine people died in this attack by a US F-16 dropping a 500lb bomb. The only survivor was his nine-year-old son, Ahmad Bilal. “Most of the people killed in this war are not Taliban; they are innocents,” Gulam Rasul told me. “Was the killing of my family a mistake? No, it was not. They fly their planes and look down on us, the mere Afghan people, who have no planes, and they bomb us for our birthright, and with all contempt.”

There was the wedding party in the village of Niazi Qala, 100km south of Kabul, to celebrate the marriage of the son of a respected farmer. By all accounts it was a wonderfully boisterous affair, with music and singing. The roar of aircraft started when everyone was asleep, at about three in the morning. According to a United Nations report, the bombing lasted two hours and killed 52 people: 17 men, ten women and 25 children, many of whom were found blown to bits where they had desperately sought refuge, in a dried-up pond. Such slaughter is not uncommon, and these days the dead are described as “Taliban”; or, if they are children, they are said to be “partly to blame for being at a site used by militants” – according to the BBC, speaking to a US military spokesman.

http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=470

[Pavulon]

19. Yep, We bombed and killed Canadian troops as well

as our own. I would not say killing Canadian allies is any more of a policy that killing innocent people. ~reaching for the NY Times, rolling it up~

[truebrit71]

42. Wow. sanctimonious much?

:eyes:

There is very little difference between the people in those two sets of pictures you snarked about. One is in black and white, the other is in colour. BOTH are of fascists at work.

Go piss on THAT carpet.

[LanternWaste]

79. Then you believe that currently serving members

Then you believe that currently serving members of the military and the vets who post on DU are fascist, too?

If so, why haven't you alerted the mods about the presence of fascism in our idyllic little community...?

If not, what's the precise and relevant difference?

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

45. Thank you

:yourock:

[erpowers]

78. Hospital Ships

The Navy has at least one hostipal ship. In addition, they have also done a number of resuce missions with other ships. When Katrina occured I think it was USS Mercy that eventually went to New Orleans to help with the situation. I think it was Bush's slowness that delayed the ship from getting there sooner. In one of the Navy commericals the Navy mentions some of the resuce missions they have done. At the end of the commerical the announcer says "If you want to make a difference in your world send a little time in ours".

[savgpncl]

89. Bravo my friend...

Well put...

[alarimer]

6. More rah-rah propaganda I don't need to hear

no thanks.

[savgpncl]

93. Amen to that...

PBS must be hard up for viewers.

[scarletwoman]

9. Just what we need, more glorification of militarism. Thanks for nothing, PBS. (nt)

[cbayer]

11. I am surprised by some of the responses you are getting here.

I think this is going to be really eye-opening. I look forward to hearing what those on the lowest end of the military have to say about their experience. I think we need to see it through their eyes. It's not their war and they are being treated as expendable. Hooray for PBS, the only major player on the TV worth anything.

[didact]

91. Honestly...you're suprised?!

[Individualist]

13. A documentary film crew? Or an embedded film crew?

You can be almost certain that it's the latter and that the Navy edited the footage.

[mvccd1000]

30. Actually, if you've bothered to do any research...

... you can be absolutely certain that your comments are entirely off the mark.

Before PBS did the documentary, they got the Navy to buy off on not editing it at all. They only two scenes that were removed (less than 30 seconds total) were a shot of the inside of an F-18 engine, and a panning camera shot that swept across a monitor with classified information on it.

The Navy was not allowed to edit any other content, and from the reviews I've read, there is some that they probably would have wanted to.

[Liberal_in_LA]

47. agreed. Some of the what I saw was definitely not flattering to the Navy

[savgpncl]

90. Unedited?

Yeah. There was nothing to edit out: no controversial statements for sure. Nothing but Top Gun crap imagery (and music) and go-go America drivel by brainwashed lifers,

[InkAddict]

14. Well, there go my hopes for 10 Sunday night seductions.... n/t

The military, she-devil, gets all the goods...

[taterguy]

16. No worries, the series regular time slot is Thursday

[defendandprotect]

21. Not for me, either --- I watched 5 mins of Antique Roadshow tonight ....

another show about white people and their possessions . . .

only surpassed by PBS entrancement with the British Royals --- !!!

[Pavulon]

23. A very smart

well balanced start. Not propaganda, focused on real people.

Several of which were using the military to pay for school and get out of places that were not conducive to their succeeding.

Certainly not an agenda piece.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pavulon]

25. Those whores have secured

your right to express ignorance in relative safety..

The guy with the sidearm would put a hole in your brain with zero hesitation. Not tolerate your legal dissent.



Enjoy what you have..It is not spontaneous, it requires an effort to maintain.

[scarletwoman]

27. No, the Bill of Rights guarantees our freedoms. Maintaining an Empire does the opposite.

The military protects the profits of the capitalists, they don't protect us.

[BigDaddy44]

38. The Bill of Rights guarantees nothing

Its a piece of paper. The collective will of the people to enforce and defend whats on that piece of paper is what guarantees our freedoms. When someone has a gun to your head because your country was unable or unwilling to defend you I'm sure your opinion would be a bit different.

By the way, do you have a job? Make money at that job? Then you're one of the evil capitalists being defended.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

44. I'm trying to think of a point in my lifetime when the U.S. military

actually "defended my freedom" instead of just meddling in the internal affairs of other countries.

[scarletwoman]

49. Word!

I'm totally fed up with that stupid canard.

sw

[erpowers]

80. WWII

I think WWII was one example. In addition, I think just having a military keeps countries safe. I contend you should not be angry at the people who choose to be in the military, but the Presidents who push to fight needless wars and the Congress people who do not stand up to those presidents. There are a number of military personal who are against the war and president Bush. In addition, many of the kids who joined the military or dream of joining the military do it for good reasons; they do not want to be imperalists; they just want to give back to their country. Some young people look at John F. Kennedy's quote "Ask not what you country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" and think a great want to do that is to join the military.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

84. I said "in my lifetime," which postdates WWII

However, if you look at history, the European half of World War II is directly traceable to leftover issues of World War I, which is traceable to leftover issues from the Franco-Prussian War, which is traceable to leftover issues from the Napoleonic Wars. The Asian half is traceable to Japan looking at the Europeans and assuming that the way to become a modern country was to go out conquering other countries. Wars don't actually solve anything. They just create new resentments. Even World War II allowed the Soviets to take over half of Europe, and that domination was undone not by the U.S. military but by mostly peaceful efforts within the various countries and by the willingness of Gorbachev to let it all happen.

I don't blame the poor suckers who join the military, naively thinking they're doing their patriotic duty.

They would be doing their patriotic duty if we had a strictly defensive military that didn't go around trying to impose the U.S. government's will in places that are none of our business. As it is, we have a larger military budget than all the rest of the world COMBINED, and only a tiny minority of the Democratic Party shows any interest in taming this giant bloodsucker of a military establishment.

Our culture tends too much to equate patriotism with militarism.

[scarletwoman]

50. So when is the military going to protect us from the criminal cabal in the White House?

The Bushco thugs are shredding our Constitution, breaking laws, draining the treasury, and destroying our civil society. When is the military going to start protecting me from THAT?

The only entity holding a gun to my head and taking away my freedoms is the fascist police state being built up all around us by the MIC. Fat lot of good the military is going to do, they're part of it.

The only times the military directly fought for the freedom of the citizens of this country was the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Everything else has been the machinations of Empire.

sw

[BigDaddy44]

52. So are you advocating a coup?

Its not the military's responsibility to hold the executive branch responsible for anything. That is the Congresses job.

And I'm sure the millions rescued from tyranny by the efforts of the US Military in WWII thank you for your deep insight.

[scarletwoman]

55. No, I'm pointing out that this whole "protecting our freedoms" canard is a bunch of crap.

Yeah, go ahead and trot out WWII -- yes, the U.S. military helped Europe out a lot. It was still a battle between superpowers, and the root causes were -- as they are in all wars -- economic (i.e. greed).

The thing is, after this glorius victory for "freedom", the military-security state just grew and grew. The police state grew. The "Defense" budgets just grew and grew. The resource wars keep growing.

How does this protect my freedom? It doesn't. It enslaves me to a militarist all-powerful State. I must submit to my privacy being invaded and all my communications and economic transaction being harvested for study. I must submit to searches and arbitrary no-fly lists.

How the fuck is all this militarism fucking PROTECTING me?!?! It is NOT! It is protecting the richest assholes in the world who don't give the slightest shit -- not one subatomic particle -- of how many people they murder in order to get richer. And that includes the fucking sainted "troops".

I'm through indulging this kind of deluded "they protect your freedom" horseshit. Grow up, wake up, and get a fucking clue about how the world REALLY works!

sw

[erpowers]

81. Military Is Figthing

Some would argue that the military are the main ones fighting against the Bush Administration. There are a number of military personnel who put their careers on the line to stand up for the Constitution. You should remember that about 50 generals and/or admirals have been pushed into retirement just for disagreeing with the Bush Administration. Zini and other were called crazy for saying the Iraq war was a bad idea and that if we did go in we needed more troops that Bush wanted to send into the country. If you ever read the book "Hubris" you will learn that a number of Senator and Representatives had doubts about the Iraq War, but gave Bush the benefit of the doubt. It is possible that a number of military personnel tried to point out that Bush was wrong. In addition, there are those who think Admiral Fallon was push out because he stood up against Bush on Iran. In addition, there are others who have risked their careers to fight for the Constitution. It seems that it could be argued that if the Congress had stood up to Bush as much as the military did we would not be in this mess. Therefore, the military is fighting against Bush; it is possible they just do not have that much help.

[ForrestGump]

33. If you're going to take it that broadly -- and we know you're just

doing it to be obnoxious -- then you're also covered by the term, if you work for a living.

[LanternWaste]

37. It must be quite nice to have...

It must be quite nice to have an absolute knowledge of morality and mores. Most of us deal with subjective interpretations and realize that we may actually be wrong.

But for you to have an absolute knowledge of what is Right and what is Wrong, and maintain both your indictments, and judgments based on that is quite impressive indeed.

I'm quite surprised that your absolute knowledge of this hasn't yet won you a Nobel Peace prize (at the very least) and that we haven't yet heard of the people, beliefs and organizations you would put in place of armies and war-- and also when and how you'll accomplish this most Herculean feat...

[Canuckistanian]

26. War Porn.

Brought to you by America's Defense Industry.

Enjoy.

[scarletwoman]

28. Spot on! (nt)

[DS1]

29. Sure are a lot of better-than-you douchebags in this thread

:eyes:

[rockymountaindem]

40. Ha! Absolutely

[WildEyedLiberal]

66. It wouldn't be DU without a surfeit of better-than-you douchebags

I'll see your :eyes: and raise you :eyes: :eyes: and a :puke:

[mvccd1000]

31. For those of you expressing opinions based on your ignorance...

... read up a bit, you might learn something.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-et-carrier26apr26,1,2653957.story?track=rss

The Navy got to review the documentary series but didn't quash the less-than-glorifying parts.
By Martin Miller, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 26, 2008

ONE SAILOR calmly tells the camera that America went to war for oil. Another, while slurring drunk and again when stone sober, is shown making racist comments. Yet another naval serviceman, who counsels crew members about sexually appropriate behavior, is caught having sex with a shipmate of a lower rank.

Later, a fighter pilot openly questions the rationale for the Iraq war and mulls over the morality of bombing the war-torn country. And finally, a range of enlisted personnel and officers plainly voice disappointment over not dropping bombs during their mission.

While by themselves these incidents may sound like the stuff of enemy propaganda, they are in fact part of a much larger message entirely approved by the United States Navy -- which is somewhat nervously hoping that by allowing itself to look bad in places, it can look good overall.

The American public can watch what may be one of the riskier and more unconventional public relations strategies in U.S. naval history unfold on PBS' "Carrier," a 10-hour documentary series about life aboard an aircraft carrier during wartime. The program, which clearly bears the stamp of reality television, premieres Sunday night on KCET-TV and most PBS stations across the nation and runs throughout the week.


------


Much more at the link.

[A HERETIC I AM]

32. Thanks.

I had reservations about putting up this thread. I thought there might be some interest but I also knew there would be a certain amount of vitriol on the subject.

But after watching the first two installments I must say I am impressed. There is a wide range of characters followed - from a young African American Woman whose mother (she says) was a whore and whose father was a pimp, who attains the rank of Petty Officer. A woman pilot who doesn't understand why the "terrorists are terrorizing us" but is more than happy to drop bombs on people because she is told to. Another pilot (as you mentioned in your post) who openly questions the validity of the Iraq war.

The people who are focused on are merely Americans, most of them from middle to lower income families who joined the Navy as a way to expand their horizons. They do what they are told.

This isn't "war porn".

It's a story about a few of our fellow Americans and what they went through while being on a ship for 6 months.

[Snarkturian Clone]

34. Fuck I knew it was coming and I missed it.

It has to be repeating at some point right?

[A HERETIC I AM]

35. It is scheduled to air during this week....

Go to this link, enter in your Zip Code to find your local station in order to get air times. They will be repeating episodes 1 & 2 (the ones aired last night - in my area, anyway)

[Snarkturian Clone]

36. thx NT

[Crabby Appleton]

39. It's well worth watching, excellent. nt

[L. Coyote]

41. A bunch of kids loading bombs, far removed from the death they bring to the world.

What impressed me the most is how "soldiers" are mere children obeying orders without thinking.

One of them was addressing the issue of loading bombs, saying the bomb "might" kill someone. HELLO!!

They should be required to watch the consequences of their actions, to see the children blown to bits.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

43. It's a sad reflection on our culture that the "best" opportunity

for many poor and rural youth is to go off and support imperialism, and maybe get killed or maimed for life in the process.

Because let's be real about this, people. The military hasn't been about "defending our freedom" at any point during my lifetime. (Well, the Korean War is a "maybe," but I can't think of any others.)

All the other military ventures have been about meddling in other countries' internal affairs or pissing contests with other superpowers, and the military-industrial complex has corrupted our political life (cf. the news that the Dems are crafting a bill to extend the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq six months into 2009--the craven cowards) and bled the U.S. Treasury dry.

Now we're in some bullshit "war on terror." The U.S. military still has bases all over the world (fighting whom?) and wants to put missiles in former Soviet republics (against whom?). Please explain to me how a giant aircraft carrier fights "terrorism." What good is a giant aircraft carrier except as a floating base for launching attacks that will cause mass death?

We don't see it living here, because despite the economic problems, most people still live in comfortable cocoons. But you can bet that the rest of the world increasingly sees the U.S., which spends more on its military on everyone else COMBINED,not as a bastion of freedom but as a bully.

[Pastiche423]

48. Fabulous points

Thank you.

[scarletwoman]

51. "What good is a giant aircraft carrier except as a floating base for launching attacks

...that will cause mass death?"

That's the whole stark truth in a nutshell. The U.S. military is nothing more than the hired "muscle" for enforcing our hegemony. They are the hitmen for the Kleptocrats, nothing more.

sw

[neverforget]

53. They are the tools of our government. The military does not make policy

they carry it out.

[scarletwoman]

54. I understand that. Which is precisely why I question why the hell I should glorify a tool

that's being used to evil purpose?

sw

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. How does merely watching a television program possibly

reach to the point of glorifying a tool being used to evil purpose?


I understand exactly your points. I appreciate the fact that you view the military the way you do, and in many ways, I agree with you.

But this series of programs merely tells the stories of several of your fellow Americans. Watch it or don't watch. But by watching it, you hardly "glorify" it.

Hell...you might even learn something.

[scarletwoman]

57. Oh please. I loved the Scarecrow in the Wizard of OZ, too, but your poor strawman has nowhere

near as much class.

It's not about the "watching", it's about the MAKING. I just find it sickening and offensive that 10 hours of incredibly precious (in TV land) "prime" broadcast TV time (broadcast STILL draws exponentially larger audiences than any cable news show) is being devoted to military-worship.

Like these are some special class of beings. They're not. They're just killers for hire by the Hegemon.

If PBS wanted to do something REALLY meaningful and dangerous, it would broadcast a 10 hour documentary on single black mothers in Detroit.

I know you're coming from a completely different perspective. I'm just expressing my own perspective, which differs substantially from yours. I don't care whether you accept my perspective or not, it doesn't change my perspective. I expect that you feel the same.

I'm willing to engage in honest debate, but I won't abide logical fallacies.

sw

[A HERETIC I AM]

58. On the other hand...

You could merely accept it for what it is - a documentary that follows and explores the experiences of several of your fellow countrymen who were on a ship for six months.

Like these are some special class of beings. They're not. They're just killers for hire by the Hegemon.

So the young black woman whose mother was a whore and father was a pimp - who has reached the rank of Petty Officer and now is a supervisor, or the young man who lacked direction and decided on his own to join the Navy in order to improve his life, or the career Master Chief who manages what amounts to a floating high school in many ways and has never fired a shot at anything other than a target - they are "killers"? Hmmmm....and you accuse me of using a straw man? (and talk about "class"!)

Here; Use one of these

and climb the fuck down off of this


I get it. Everyone gets it. You're morally superior because you don't want to watch a TV show about an Aircraft Carrier.

It is too bad that PBS doesn't continuously produce programs that fit what you think their programming directives should be.

Yes. Quite.

What a wonderful world it would be if we only saw what YOU think PBS should show.

For the record, PBS, Nova and the other producers have been doing shows about the American experience for decades. This includes shows about single Black Mothers in Detroit.

[scarletwoman]

59. What makes you think I can't "accept it as it is"? I do. I merely differ in my opinion

of what the "it" is. And I do not care to accept "it" without protest.

I honestly didn't think that what I was saying was that all complicated. Or "high-horse" (is that codespeak for "elitist"? -- just asking...).

sw

[Lydia Leftcoast]

65. But why did they feel that the military was their ONLY alternative?

What does that say about our society?

[Seeking Serenity]

69. Who said they felt like it was their ONLY option?

Maybe they felt it was their best option, or just one of several options they chose.

Y'know, some people who join the military do so because they want to serve our country. You do know that, right?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

70. But if they were savvy, they'd know that joining the military isn't really

"serving the country" and hasn't been for at least fifty years.

It's serving the Establishment and whichever ways it decides to meddle in world affairs.

[Gormy Cuss]

71. They're savvy enough to know that being in the military is viewed as civil service

and that the skills developed in that service are valued by many employers. It's taking on a higher status job than is usually available to those who can't afford college or who didn't have a solid high school education. That's savvy.

As for serving the Establishment, we all do that every time we pay Federal taxes. If you are a firefighter or public school teacher, you're serving the Establishment. If you work for a large corporation you're serving the Establishment. Frankly, only a few people (off the grid backwoods dwellers and very wealthy individuals, for example) aren't working for the Establishment.

I wish that every cent of military spending would be redirected to other uses but it's unlikely that we'll get rid of it anytime soon.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

72. There's a difference: firefighters save lives and property

:shrug:

And I repeat my assertion that it's a shame that the military seems like the only way out for too many people. The casualty lists from the current invasion and occupation read like an atlas of rural and poor America.

[Gormy Cuss]

73. And most in the military never fire a weapon except in target practice.

One could assert that the principal function of firefighting is to protect real property and only incidentally to save lives since in most cases there are no humans trapped in buildings on fire.

The casualty lists read that way because those are the major sources of recruits as it always has been. In earlier wars well off Americans bought replacement soldiers to serve in their stead.

[Kajsa]

74. And WHAT does that say

to all the veterans, here on DU?

They are all " hired killers?"

Give me a break!

Obviously, many of the critics of this "war porn"
haven't lived under a totalitarian regime.
One where freedom of speech is a joke.
Many members of my family ( stepfather's family)
have. It's no joke.

DU would be banned in those countries.

Hell, check out.

'Internet censorship in the People/'s Republic of China'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China

What the fuck do you think is keeping the Communist Chinese government in power?
Outstanding PR around the world?

Yeah, I know all about the zillions in loans to the US.

So a program showing us the day to day lives of
seamen aboard an aircraft carrier is " glorifying war?"

I don't think so!

[Seeking Serenity]

75. Zing! (n/t)

[Kajsa]

82. thanks!

:pals:

[savgpncl]

94. Bravo to that...

I especially liked the part where they got a big jag out of the fact that the bombs came to them autographed with the names of the 9/11 "heroes" and how disappointed they seemed when they couldn't drop the ordinance since (as one pilot put it): it's "fun". I was in the USN 4 years and these kids were not in abundance aboard the ship I served on. Times have sure changed.

[Subdivisions]

60. Kick. This is turning out to be pretty good. Good tunes too. Tonight

they revealed the extent of racism aboard ship, the seriousness of being racist in the Navy, and the consequences.

The story focused on a young navy sailor who was raised up being racist and was unable to adapt to Navy life. He received an "Other than honorable" discharge that he thought would fall from his record after two years and in the meantime he'll probably have a hard time getting a job as a result. He was sadly mistaken. That discharge, his CO said, would follow him and effect his ability to get a good job for the rest of his life.

Shame there are people who are raised in such a way and then can't change.

[Liberal_in_LA]

77. His mama must be so proud... she raised a racist, immature, drunk.

[savgpncl]

95. Great "tunes"?

C'mon: "haze gray and underway"?

[bushmeister0]

62. Did they catch the Russian bombers buzzing the flight deck?

CNN: (Feb.12 2008)

"American fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers, one of which buzzed a U.S. aircraft carrier in the western Pacific on Saturday, U.S. military officials told CNN Monday . . . One of them twice flew about 2,000 feet over the deck of the USS Nimitz Saturday while another flew about 50 miles away, officials said. Two others were at least 100 miles away, the military reported.

And they're worried about Iranian speedboats? I think they have a bigger problem than that. 2000 ft.?)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/11/russian.bomber/index.html?eref=rss_us

Check out the non-propaganda "life on an aircraft carrier documentary" on This American Life. It's pretty interesting.

Somewhere in the Arabian Sea: 3/18/03

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=206

My favorite part is the guy who says he was onboard only because he given the choice of going to jail. He thinks life on the Stennis is worse than prison.

[Thothmes]

68. Warships are like prisons with the added risk of drownding.

Believe that was a statement made by Samuel Boswell.

[LanternWaste]

83. I imagine that was very well true in the Napoleonic era.

I imagine that was very well true in the Napoleonic era.

These days... not so much.

[Thothmes]

85. Have you ever sailed on an American warship.

I did many times over a twenty four year career in the Navy. Yes life is easier than in Boswells time, but a prisoner in a state penitenary is entitled to more square footage to live in than a sailor on our ships. Life is regulated by a three section watch, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for months on end when you are at sea.

[LanternWaste]

86. Have you ever done serious time in prison?

"Have you ever done serious time in prison?" seems to be just as valid a question for you...


But--- enjoy your melodrama.



For every one squid who maintains a sailing vessel is a prison, there's another who maintains it's better than where they grew up. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, I guess.

[Thothmes]

98. I never maintained it was a prison

I spent 24 years in the Navy. I liked the time I spent in the Navy. But it is not ease, comfortable or particularly a career that most of my countrymen would relish.

[savgpncl]

96. Quite true...

It's not all rock music and adrenalin.

[bushmeister0]

63. The corporate sponsor of the show is CSC which just happens to have contracts with the DoD

CSC News:

"Falls Church, Va., Apr. 21 -- Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) announced today that since Jan. 1, its North American Public Sector (NPS) business unit has signed 71 previously unannounced contracts and subcontracts during its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter, which ended March 28. These contracts have a total estimated value of approximately $915 million if all contract options are exercised.

The performance periods for the contracts range from one month to ten years. Civil agencies accounted for 31 awards with a total value of approximately $416 million. The Defense Department and its agencies accounted for 40 awards with a total value of approximately $499 million."

http://www.csc.com/newsandevents/news/13269.shtml

"Services performed by CSC under these previously unannounced contracts include a wide range of business and information technology (IT) services, including analysis, systems integration and modernization, consulting, engineering, outsourcing, training, maintenance and logistics support for a diverse base of clients in the law enforcement and intelligence communities; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Departments of the Navy, Army and Air Force."

How about that? I wonder why they're so into promoting the Navy?

Check out their ad for the documentary:

"http://www.csc.com/

[savgpncl]

97. Pure propaganda...

Corporate America comes to the fore with pro-military crap just in time for the upcoming election.

[bushmeister0]

64. CSC used to own Dyncorp,

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?list=type&type=18

[Liberal_in_LA]

76. Amazed by episode 3: Sexual Assault officer, gets drunk on shore leave, career now ruined

by sex with subordinate. He sure didn't listen to the advise he was given the young enlisted.

[rocktivity]

87. Episodes 1 - 4 are online

Here: http://www.pbs.org/weta/carrier/full_episodes.htm

You're welcome.

:headbang:
rocknation

[savgpncl]

88. Boring slop...

One gigantic Navy recruitment poster complete with amped up
images of F18 jets landing and taking off.  Really
"loved" the music: "haze gray and
underway?" --- yikes, please give me a break.  I spent 4
years in the Navy on board a WW2 destroyer (minus all the
benefits these brats enjoyed -- the health club for example)
and this represents the worst kind of propaganda.  I can see
all the poor kids running to the recruiters office now to
begin their big adventure.  The sailors/pilots bored the heck
out of me with all the save America drivel.  I fell asleep
during episode 4. No more for me.