The Importance of Holding News from Iraq Higher Than Celebrity News

Britney Spears was born December 2, 1981, in Kentwood, Louisiana. Wife to Kevin Federline, they have two sons together, and are currently seeking a divorce after being separated for quite some time. Throughout this year, there have been multiple developments regarding her emotional stability, which then in turn question her fame and how long it will last. Currently, the news is surrounding her latest death threat to a paparazzi photographer. To be brutally honest, does anyone care at this point?

At times, while watching the news on the television, or reading through online news articles, I find myself boiling over the fact that we are paying more attention to celebrities and their poor decisions, rather than the American soldiers that we have fighting for us in Iraq. Has America lost sight of this? I understand that major news stations have to make money, and they have to advertise what sells, but at this point, earnings should be on the back burner.

I truly cannot imagine being a soldier in Iraq at this point, but more importantly, I can't imagine being a family member of a soldier in Iraq. I'll explain why. Soldiers in Iraq don't have as many opportunities to actually view the news. There are wives, husbands, and children of American soldiers that sit down and eat their dinner to the evening news. For a brief moment, they discuss the loss of an American soldier. They then quickly move on to celebrity drama, spending much more time, and paying much more attention to fine details, such as what they were wearing, and what their lawyers comments were. Can you imagine how insulting that must be to the families of soldiers? Come on, people. What a true slap in the face!

In my opinion, until our troops are home safely, we should truly forget about the celebrities and the drama surrounding them. They have their magazines, and there the petty news can remain. Allow our television news stations to truly show appreciation for what our armed service men and women are doing for us. Instead of taking a brief moment to explain the death of a soldier, go far beyond that. Share the story of that persons life with the American public. Tell the story of who they were, what they stood for, but more importantly, the price they paid for our safety in America.

Which is more important? The loss of a soldier to a vicious terrorist, or the fact that Britney Spears was spotted shopping at one of California's hot spots with a new wig on?

I truly hope that America has not become this selfish.

The next time you see a brief photograph of a soldier killed in Iraq, look deeply into their eyes, or even their smile, and allow it to become embedded into your mind. That is where your focus, your care, and your compassion should lay. Behind the face of an American soldier lays a family, a heart, and a desire to live a happy life as we all do. Show true respect, and thank them for doing the job that no one else would do, and most importantly, giving up their life so we could keep ours.