Red, White and Blue Fridays was created as a way of showing my support to our soldiers by spreading the word on ways we (bloggers, like you and me) can say, "Thank you!"
Regardless of the fact that you are a democrat, republican, liberal,
independent, conservative, left wing, right wing, or a giant purple
people-eater – WHATEVER – wouldn’t it be nice if we could ALL
just…you know…come together and NOT be afraid to flaunt our red,
white and blue….yeah…I mean, that’s what the blogosphere is
for…YES?
This week, I’d like to talk about military blogs – did you know that there’s a ban going on?
There’s an interesting article on the Wired Blog Network reporting how the Air Force blocks access to many blogs. Basically, their argument is that blogs aren’t authorized forms of media and shouldn’t be read at work.
Uh-huh.
Not being a military expert, or anything, I probably wouldn’t be able to string together a counter-argument adequate enough to properly approach the subject, any further.
However, the word CENSORSHIP does come to mind.
I mean, it can get really confusing – or, is it just me – but, traditional print media reports from every point of view and gives readers a chance to form opinions on pretty much everything, do they not?
Personally, I believe that military blogs are a terrific way for us regular-type Joes and Josephinas to really get to know the men and women in the armed forces – strangers, who are ready to cover our backsides – and allow them to tell us "their story" of exactly what it’s like living behind the barricades.
Here’s what am I reading:
Army Wife Talk Radio:
Celebrated their 150th show, this week! The original internet talk radio show designed specifically for army wives, by army wives, featuring up to the minute information, special reports, stories and interviews. It would be comforting, for me, to know that I could count on these ladies to be there for me. Whenever, wherever or however I needed them to be. Rock on, AWTR!
The Happy Housewife – 13 Things You Can Do To Support Our Troops:
Shares her Thursday Thirteen and dedicates her post to friends (Brian and Jesse) who are currently serving overseas. We participated in one thing, recently – invite a single service member over to your house for dinner. At my brother’s 4th of July barbecue. An Army National Guardsman from Alabama, recently back from his first tour in Iraq. He was so polite. Yes, Ma’am. No, Ma’am. Thank you, Ma’am. It was fun to watch him try (and eat) Hungarian food. What a cool experience. Thanks, Uncle Bud!
Doonesbury@Slate – The Sand Box:
Yep, like in the comic strip, a military blog that allows its readers to support our troops by listening to service members have to say, with fresh reports from Iraq and Afghanistan. I won’t lie to you – as if – some of these stories are really hard to read. For me, anyway.
Milblogging.com:
The world’s largest listing of military blogs – currently lists 1, 915 military blogs in 36 countries and 4,764 registered members. This site’s going to take me a while. If you’re looking for a flavor. This is THE place to be!
Baghdad Bureau Blog – Iraq from the Inside:
Launched on NYTimes.com this week, with insights and stories about daily life in Bagdad and what it is like living outside the Green Zone.
Notice, the last one has the word "blog" in it, but it’s published by the NY Times – I am so confused – my hope is that their readers (and writers) remember that these are "real people" we’re talking about . Personally, I believe reading blogs is an informative way of keeping in touch with what’s going on, in the real world AND very, very therapeutic.
Anyhow, now it’s your turn – tell us about your favorite blog, website, or a special someone you’d like to introduce us to.
Not a problem – let Mr. Linky do it for you – feel free to link to it with
one simple line:
"Thank you!"
We’ll be more than happy to add it to the RWBF Wall of Honor.
That’s it…oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment (so, I can thank YOU!) and be sure to grab a badge:
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It will link back to Red, White and Blue Fridays, enabling other bloggers to join in paying tribute to our soldiers and their families.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by – support our troops, bring them home, treat them right – HOOAH!
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Comments
12 responses to “Red, White and Blue Friday #6 – Military Blogs Will Soon Be History, For Some”
RWBF #6: Military Blogs Will Be History, For Some
For this week’s Red, White and Blue Friday we’re talking about the Air Force ban on some military blogs and share a few of my favorite links.
RWBF #6: Military Blogs Will Be History, For Some
For this week’s Red, White and Blue Friday we’re talking about the Air Force ban on some military blogs and share a few of my favorite links.
RWBF #6: Military Blogs Will Be History, For Some
For this week’s Red, White and Blue Friday we’re talking about the Air Force ban on some military blogs and share a few of my favorite links.
RWBF #6: Military Blogs Will Be History, For Some
For this week’s Red, White and Blue Friday we’re talking about the Air Force ban on some military blogs and share a few of my favorite links.
The military services and censorship go hand in hand. They go way back, at the very least to Korea (that I know of through my dad), and I am sure that they probably even go back to the “The war to end all wars”
The military is not entirely wrong. They need to have some control over what is communicated, and through whom this communication takes place, otherwise potentially dangerous information could inadvertently be leaked.
That being said, the fact that they allow “some” blogging by “certain” soldiers smacks of propaganda. What is published, is what is allowed to be published. No it is not all rosy and perfect, lest it be seen for being a sham, but still the information, much like the reporters that were embedded with troops at the beginning of the Iraq war, it seemed had only “happy ending” type stories (i.e. they fought hard, struggled with the sand, but eventually took the city and moved on).
The fact that they don’t allow “reading” of blogs and such even as relaxation (you know, those hours when you aren’t stuck “in the office” with a rifle in your hand, hoping you are not going to get blown up by an IED) is again manipulative. But admittedly not completely without point. I would imagine it would be very tough to be out there (as if it isn’t tough enough in the first place), while reading many articles and blog posts about how we don’t belong there, how we were lied to by the current administration etc. I am sure it would do nothing for moral.
So what am I saying? It stinks, yes. But in the end, there are probably very solid reasons for them to relegate these things to the dust bin.
The military services and censorship go hand in hand. They go way back, at the very least to Korea (that I know of through my dad), and I am sure that they probably even go back to the “The war to end all wars”
The military is not entirely wrong. They need to have some control over what is communicated, and through whom this communication takes place, otherwise potentially dangerous information could inadvertently be leaked.
That being said, the fact that they allow “some” blogging by “certain” soldiers smacks of propaganda. What is published, is what is allowed to be published. No it is not all rosy and perfect, lest it be seen for being a sham, but still the information, much like the reporters that were embedded with troops at the beginning of the Iraq war, it seemed had only “happy ending” type stories (i.e. they fought hard, struggled with the sand, but eventually took the city and moved on).
The fact that they don’t allow “reading” of blogs and such even as relaxation (you know, those hours when you aren’t stuck “in the office” with a rifle in your hand, hoping you are not going to get blown up by an IED) is again manipulative. But admittedly not completely without point. I would imagine it would be very tough to be out there (as if it isn’t tough enough in the first place), while reading many articles and blog posts about how we don’t belong there, how we were lied to by the current administration etc. I am sure it would do nothing for moral.
So what am I saying? It stinks, yes. But in the end, there are probably very solid reasons for them to relegate these things to the dust bin.
The military services and censorship go hand in hand. They go way back, at the very least to Korea (that I know of through my dad), and I am sure that they probably even go back to the “The war to end all wars”
The military is not entirely wrong. They need to have some control over what is communicated, and through whom this communication takes place, otherwise potentially dangerous information could inadvertently be leaked.
That being said, the fact that they allow “some” blogging by “certain” soldiers smacks of propaganda. What is published, is what is allowed to be published. No it is not all rosy and perfect, lest it be seen for being a sham, but still the information, much like the reporters that were embedded with troops at the beginning of the Iraq war, it seemed had only “happy ending” type stories (i.e. they fought hard, struggled with the sand, but eventually took the city and moved on).
The fact that they don’t allow “reading” of blogs and such even as relaxation (you know, those hours when you aren’t stuck “in the office” with a rifle in your hand, hoping you are not going to get blown up by an IED) is again manipulative. But admittedly not completely without point. I would imagine it would be very tough to be out there (as if it isn’t tough enough in the first place), while reading many articles and blog posts about how we don’t belong there, how we were lied to by the current administration etc. I am sure it would do nothing for moral.
So what am I saying? It stinks, yes. But in the end, there are probably very solid reasons for them to relegate these things to the dust bin.
The military services and censorship go hand in hand. They go way back, at the very least to Korea (that I know of through my dad), and I am sure that they probably even go back to the “The war to end all wars”
The military is not entirely wrong. They need to have some control over what is communicated, and through whom this communication takes place, otherwise potentially dangerous information could inadvertently be leaked.
That being said, the fact that they allow “some” blogging by “certain” soldiers smacks of propaganda. What is published, is what is allowed to be published. No it is not all rosy and perfect, lest it be seen for being a sham, but still the information, much like the reporters that were embedded with troops at the beginning of the Iraq war, it seemed had only “happy ending” type stories (i.e. they fought hard, struggled with the sand, but eventually took the city and moved on).
The fact that they don’t allow “reading” of blogs and such even as relaxation (you know, those hours when you aren’t stuck “in the office” with a rifle in your hand, hoping you are not going to get blown up by an IED) is again manipulative. But admittedly not completely without point. I would imagine it would be very tough to be out there (as if it isn’t tough enough in the first place), while reading many articles and blog posts about how we don’t belong there, how we were lied to by the current administration etc. I am sure it would do nothing for moral.
So what am I saying? It stinks, yes. But in the end, there are probably very solid reasons for them to relegate these things to the dust bin.
Thanks for the link, and thanks for doing your part to support the troops. I am sure the soldier appreciated your hospitality.
I hope to blog more about our military life soon.
The Happy Housewife
Thanks for the link, and thanks for doing your part to support the troops. I am sure the soldier appreciated your hospitality.
I hope to blog more about our military life soon.
The Happy Housewife
Thanks for the link, and thanks for doing your part to support the troops. I am sure the soldier appreciated your hospitality.
I hope to blog more about our military life soon.
The Happy Housewife
Thanks for the link, and thanks for doing your part to support the troops. I am sure the soldier appreciated your hospitality.
I hope to blog more about our military life soon.
The Happy Housewife