I saw little blurb that’s been tweeted and reposted all over the place….Facebook…Email…etc.

Lindsay Lohan, 24, is all over the news because she’s a celebrity drug addict. While Justin Allen 23, Brett Linley 29, Matthew Weikert 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Chase Stanley 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew Johnson 21, Zachary Fisher 24, Brandon King 23, Christopher Goeke 23, …and Sheldon Tate 27 are all Marines that gave their lives this week with NO MEDIA MENTION. Honor THEM by reposting!

It reminded me of something…a couple years ago, I had this amazing discussion with a surprisingly insightful woman. The discussion wasn’t all that long…but it was…well heartfelt.

I was coming over to one of my favorite spots at a local park, and there was someone else already kicking back on my favorite bench – luckily there was lots of room on the bench. I asked if it was okay if I snag the other spot on the bench completely oblivious of who it was, but hell I was there to relax at the park. However, after like five minutes I realized who she was and had to say hello. Don’t get me wrong…I introduced myself mainly because this kind of opportunity doesn’t happen often. I immediately apologized for interrupting her but I was totally curious about her. Surprisingly again, she was talkative and amicable.

…so we knocked out the weather and our days experiences in under two minutes’ discussion. At that point however, I couldn’t help myself.

“Dude, I have to ask. If it were me, I’d probably have kicked the media’s ass or something. How do you handle the media?”

“You learn to ignore them, hardly the smartest thing the do if you’re trying to keep some sort of image, and then you stop caring too. But I still get furious when they start digging into family.”

I asked what it was like having zero privacy and the word “Hell” was all the explanation I needed. I asked how often she lost her cool with the media.

“Way too much. But live and learn.”

I even asked how she was coping with how they sensationalized every wrong step she ever took.

“…They don’t care. It’s like they are only looking for those tastiest morsels that will distract them from the real problems in the world.”

…before I got to my next question…

“You know it really sucks. The entertainment industry is like a coping mechanism for people that can’t come to grips with what the world is really like. The media is geared to draw you. They aren’t concerned for what is right…only for what will get them a broader audience. Whatever they can get away with without breaking the law..they’re all over it. Accuracy doesn’t matter, only the draw.

People, great people, awesome people…are dying to save each other every day…I bet they give me more coverage at a court date than they do for all the guys dying in Iraq. It’s not that the media does this habitually, I hate it more when it’s me they’re dumping all the attention on. It’s like come on people, you must have better things to do.”

At this point I totally apologized, as I was obviously interrupting what was rare peace for her. But then I opened my trap and said it.

“Ya know, I have to admit I was a slave to the media impression before today. I feel like an ass now. You’re ten times more interesting to talk to about the media than it is to listen to the media about you.”

*yes, I was grinning*

She smirked and said, “It’s the one thing the media doesn’t care about, but thanks.”

Things stayed quiet after that. The day was just too beautiful to sully with any more dialogue. For another 10 minutes we just sat on the bench enjoying the peace, half-grins on both our faces.

By the way. Now that you’re through reading this.
Who she was doesn’t matter.

Here’s the latest list of from iCasualities.com
..and here’s a list of who gave their lives in the last week in Afghanistan.
Matthew Thomas, Donald Scott Morrison, Mark A. Simpson, Clinton E. Springer II, William Brandon Dawson, Jaysine P. S. Petree, Anthony J. Rosa, Michael J. Buras, Jonah D. McClellan, Robert F. Baldwin, Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., Joshua D. Powell, Matthew G. Wagstaff, Denis C. Miranda, Adam O. Smith, David B. McLendon, Brendan J. Looney.