ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by annakey

This is doing the rounds in US chatrooms, with alleged patriots jerking off to it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HFQ6ctvHEKs

Very moving, but obscene the cameras were there in a private, special moment. Presumably the father agreed to it, or planned it, or was pressured into it by Pentagon spin doctors. There are similar tapes on youtube, but none quite so moving, and no British ones. US TV networks haven’t quite made up their minds whether such material should be accompanied by patriotic or slushy music. The above goes for slush.

One of the music techniques used is familiar. Bach deploys it in the Passions: whenever Jesus appears it's within a halo of violins. It's a technique much used in war films too - think Ryan, Thin Red Line, Platoon.

The obvious propaganda message: this is what we're fighting for, to defend such little (white) boys from dangerous A-rabs with beards. Pretty sick. I like the way US culture is emotionally less buttoned-up than British but happy not to see British squaddies on the telly, fresh from Iraq or Afghanistan, embracing their weeping kiddies to wailing violins stolen from Bach's St Matthew Passion. Note how the US serviceman is in uniform in a school. I’ve not seen that in the UK either.

Does the MoD keep cameras off the tarmac when British families are reunited? If so, good. Long may it last. What do others think of the vid and the culture/politics behind it? Should the British public, via BBC News, be exposed to such material?

No we should only watch what your comrades tell us is good for the party.

Idiot.

Keep on topic there's a good chap.

Originally Posted by annakey

Does the MoD keep cameras off the tarmac when British families are reunited? If so, good. Long may it last. What do others think of the vid and the culture/politics behind it? Should the British public, via BBC News, be exposed to such material?

I remember Ross Kemps Afghanistan showing the Anglians coming come. It was clear their families had missed them, but I think its more a personal moment.

I wouldn’t want it to be a regular thing on the news. Show the boys coming home, but not the first time they see their partners and children, that’s a private time I think.

As mentioned in the clip the class that the boy attends has been corresponding with the father whilst he has been deployed and this has featured on (inter)national TV before. It was probably natural that they would want to continue this human interest story even if it is a bit cloying.

Part of the US national effort to support troops and their families. Despite the 'smaltz' I get the feeling that in the US the media are actually supportive, contrast that with the UK where media and public at large say they are supportive, but with a few honourable exceptions, one feels that these are just words that are required to be mouthed.

Originally Posted by VarSity

Originally Posted by annakey

Does the MoD keep cameras off the tarmac when British families are reunited? If so, good. Long may it last. What do others think of the vid and the culture/politics behind it? Should the British public, via BBC News, be exposed to such material?

I remember Ross Kemps Afghanistan showing the Anglians coming come. It was clear their families had missed them, but I think its more a personal moment.

I wouldn’t want it to be a regular thing on the news. Show the boys coming home, but not the first time they see their partners and children, that’s a private time I think.

Exactly my feelings. An old school friend turned up unannounced to see my mum recently. He was in full uniform, cuts a dashing figure, and she (an old lady in her eighties) was obviously very moved just to see him on her doorstep. I suspect she had a little cry afterwards and quietly remembers him in her prayers.

The combination in this vid of uniform, weeping child, father back safe from harm, and slushy music, is very powerful. I don't like being manipulated, or seeing children used for propaganda purposes. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the various wars, it sticks in the throat.

Kids and propaganda go togeather so well.........

The pope?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMVql9RLP34