Supporters Drown out Protestors at Soldier’s Funeral

Analysis:

This story is rather lengthy by broadcast news standards, weighing it at 2 minutes and 27 seconds. However, viewers must ask themselves whether it added to their understanding of the Iraq War and its human costs. While the story tackled an emotional topic with both the death of a solider in Iraq and a group of protestors targeting the funeral, to what degree did it add to the public’s understanding of the war? There were a number of highly emotional quotes promoting patriotism and considerable use of imagery featuring American flags. The story equates dying in Iraq and support of the war with patriotism, what does this say to those who do not support the war?

Moreover, regardless of what one thinks about the protestors and their tactics, WOOD TV 8 did not give any of them airtime to explain why they were protesting.

Story:

WOOD 8 Newsreader – A sea of supporters during a fallen soldier’s funeral to drown out protesting voices. And 24 Hour News 8 is here with more.

Reporter – Well, funerals are particularly solemn affairs, but not this time, and the family didn’t seem to mind.

It is not unusual for strangers to show up at the funeral of a soldier. But this time, it was more than saying goodbye to a man who fought for his country.

Elaine Straith (supporter) – These guys fight so these people can behave as badly as they are.

Reporter – Those guys, are the people across the street, protesters who have been targeting soldier’s funerals, because they died defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality. These men drove forty miles from Muskegon to protest the protesters.

Larry Hackney (military supporter) – This young fella and his family gave up everything, and we need to be here to support ’em.

Reporter – The picketers brought out picketers from a broad swath-bikers, to Bible-carrying school children from a nearby Christian school.

Bob Huth(Supporter) – It really wasn’t until I got here, and then I saw the outgoing of love for this kid, and it shakes you up.

Reporter – Sergeant Rick Herrema was twenty-seven years old when he was shot while stepping off a helicopter in Baghdad last month. He served in the Army for seven years, but was in Iraq for just three weeks when he died.

Walter Sokalski (Family spokesperson) – We cannot describe our grief, but Rick would want everyone to know he died doing what he loved, which is fighting with his brothers for his country.

Reporter – The family didn’t mind the spectacle, in fact, they were heartened to see supporters outnumbering protesters.

To see all these people and all these flags, it’s just heartwarming. It just lets you know that hey, we’re not fighting in vain.

Reporter – And when the time came to pay respect, the crowd pushed aside it’s political differences and did just that.

The State Senate unanimously approved a bill this week that would stop protesters of soldiers killed in Iraq. It would ban demonstrations within five hundred feet of a funeral. Governor Granholm is expected to sign the legislation. American Civil Liberties Union says that such laws go too far in violating free speech.

Total time – 2 minutes, 27 seconds.