This is in response to a Sun Journal article, Oct. 7, "Maine deaths in Afghan War."
I wonder why news media keeps that issue in the minds of citizens for good, or not so good, while never publishing the long list of names slaughtered on the nation's (and Maine's) highways by drunk drivers during the same time period?
On a national basis, 15,000 to 20,000 people are killed each year. Where is the media's indignation and informative efforts there?
The absence of any outrage over the comparable fact that more than 6,000 of the nation's sons and daughters have died in the 10-plus years in Iraq and Afghanistan, while 150,000 to 200,000 have died from crimes on the road, seems to make the point, whatever it may be, rather disingenuous and puzzling.
And I am willing to bet I will be ignored.
Ronald J. Dupell, CMSgt (retired), USAF
Papillion, Neb.
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Here's the reason it is an outrage
The difference between losing our service personnel in wartime and citizens losing their lives in road accidents in which alcohol or drug use is involved as the cause is this...When we lose a soldier, a sailor, a Marine or an airman, (or airwoman), we indeed honor their service and pay our respects because, through the media their story is told, as it should be. We lower our American and state flags in their honor and we shed a tear and respect their sacrifice. But we, as a populace, have no control over their fate. Our government assigns them to do a job that is dangerous and sometimes results in tragedy and all we can do is hope and pray they make it through safely. As a father of a daughter who has been deployed to Iraq three times I can say with confidence I do understand and pay attention. However, there is little outrage when a man, woman or child becomes a victim of someone's negligence when they drive intoxicated. It is obscene that 15-20,000 people become a part of someone's statistical matrix in this manner. And I find it even more outrageous that someone can spew out percentages like candy and then exclaim to us we shouldn't be outraged still at the carnage still happening on the roadways? The last I checked, 65% of 15,000 is 9,750. How is someone not outraged at the fact so many people continue to lose their live each year in this manner? Unlike the loss of our service personnel, the deaths of these accidents could have been prevented, every single one of them. That is the outrage. In all these instances some fool decided to have a few, get lit, run the roads in their car and end someone's life...It doesn't comfort me to know that the fatality rate has been reduced by 35%. Are we that desensitized to the condition? It's an outrage if we are.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.David;
It is not 'negligence' -as you write - when someone drives intoxicated. It is criminal.
Wherever did you get such an erroneous idea???
You think people weren't outraged??? Where were you during the entire "M.A.D.D." Campaign? How soon you forgot. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Ron ;
Negligence (The definition by the law's standard) ; The failure to exercise that degree of care that, in the circumstances, the law requires for the protection of other persons of those interests of other persons that may be injuriously affected by the want of such care ; The failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. Drinking and driving is a negligent act. You want to split hairs about it then you can do that on someone else's time. I've witnessed the death of friends at the hands of a drunk and my outrage is alive and well and those instances still leave me angry to this day. As an officer of the law I do appreciate the work you had to perform under, what I'm sure were, grisly conditions. But one doesn't have to be an ex cop or a retired vet to understand what carnage and tragedy is. I've seen enough of it for a lifetime.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.David;
It's 'Negligence' when one drives while allowing themselves to be impaired to the point where they have not yet broken the law, i.e. §2411. Criminal OUI - However when one commits those elements of the offense of §2411, it then become 'Criminal'
But it takes a takes a Court - either civil or criminal, to 'legally' make that determination. That's where the 'hair-splitting' - as you put it - is done.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Where's the outrage???
It appears you haven't been paying attention, Chief Master Sergeant. And I know how E-9's don't like being ignored - but you've obviously ignored what's been going on around you.
According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Fatalities in 2010 Drop to Lowest Level in Recorded History
So we should be outraged over that???
You probably were't around in the 60's during my 'War' - Vietnam. We lost over 58,000 KIA and another 1,600+ MIA; not quite as long as yours - but a bit more intense.
And 'Drunk Driving' took out a lot more service people as it was much more socially acceptable.
Were's the outrage???
I'm outraged over every last Soldier, Sailor, Marine and Airman who dies in any needless war - as I was anyone who killed, maimed or injured in so-called motor vehicle 'Accidents' - as I had to go pick up the pieces and investigate them in my career as a law enforcement officer.
In 1994 the U.S. had 1.73 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled; by 2009, that had dropped by 35% to 1.13 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled. And it was much worse when I was a young screamin' seaman.
You haven't been paying attention, CSM. You should research your facts before your bark at the media.
I do.
Ronald J. Riml, (Command)Senior Chief Petty Office, USNR-Ret
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Ronald, It is all about
Ronald,
It is all about emotion, not facts or logic.
Mark
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