Posted on Apr 27, 2015
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This past weekend, I was catching up on my favorite TV shows and an ad for an episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles" came on. What I saw really made me upset. The preview of the upcoming episode was that there was a Veteran who returned home from war only to pick up a rifle and target civilians in and around the city.
While I understand that TV needs to sell and all that. But what is making me upset is the number of TV shows going to this plot over and over again. All these do is set back all our efforts to show Veterans as the strong and driven future leaders that we are.
What is the point of continuously showing Veterans as these crazed, gun carrying crazy people unable to transition into the community? Why not show some of our battles but in a way that let's Veterans and the general community know that what we are going through, the battles within, are happening to others. That you aren't alone. That there are people out here willing and able to help.
The idea of us all being a crazy, gun carrying, crazy person has passed it's prime. I feel that if we come together on one united front as brothers and sisters-in-arms, we can help show people what Veterans are really made of. And hopefully, we impact Veterans directly.
TV Show, Transition,
While I understand that TV needs to sell and all that. But what is making me upset is the number of TV shows going to this plot over and over again. All these do is set back all our efforts to show Veterans as the strong and driven future leaders that we are.
What is the point of continuously showing Veterans as these crazed, gun carrying crazy people unable to transition into the community? Why not show some of our battles but in a way that let's Veterans and the general community know that what we are going through, the battles within, are happening to others. That you aren't alone. That there are people out here willing and able to help.
The idea of us all being a crazy, gun carrying, crazy person has passed it's prime. I feel that if we come together on one united front as brothers and sisters-in-arms, we can help show people what Veterans are really made of. And hopefully, we impact Veterans directly.
TV Show, Transition,
TV
Transition
PTSD
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 36
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They don't know us. That's what happens when .45 % of the population has served in combat.
http://www.rangerup.com/the45.html
http://www.rangerup.com/the45.html
PREORDER The 0.45% Normal Fit T-Shirt
PREORDER The 0.45% Normal Fit T-Shirt - I remember the day I found out I got into West Point. My mom actually showed up in the hallway of my high school and waited for me to get out of class. She ...
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Capt Richard I P.
PO3 Steven Sherrill You're right of course. But the fact that .45% of the population or a cumulative 12 % has had one of the most profound life altering experiences and the other 99.55-88% have not is going to create an inherent perception gap.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
Capt Richard I P. I agree with that. What compounds that is this 24/7 news cycle, talking point news, and no real in depth information being widely circulated. Perception is altered by a lack of information. The assumptions and stereotypes are based on a thirty second {insert news source here} blurb with a truncated video (maybe) and a couple of photos. The majority is a snipet taken out of the context of a bigger picture. They will then follow it up with an opinion piece that lasts five to seven minutes. This leads people to the conclusion that they want the people to make rather than forcing people to think. Leading to your perception gap.
From a personal perspective, I do not know what it is like to be under fire, but I have a great respect for those who go in harms way in defense of our nation.
From a personal perspective, I do not know what it is like to be under fire, but I have a great respect for those who go in harms way in defense of our nation.
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SFC Mark Merino
No wonder we all gravitate to each other. I met a medic yesterday at AAMCO who got out this JAN. I asked how the transition is going and he just looked at me and shook his head. "I don't speak civilian."
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PO1 Donald Hammond
* snicker *
I actually had this poster on my wall in the 70s.
Thus showing how messed up us military people are!
I actually had this poster on my wall in the 70s.
Thus showing how messed up us military people are!
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All the PTSD soldiers and vets I knew were fighting ghosts and demons inside them, not fighting society.
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SFC Mark Merino
Excellent point. There are mentally damaged people in the world. That will never change. They may have also gone to war, but they were still broken to begin with.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
I have ambivalent feelings about that episode. It does tell the tale of a veteran but portrays him as a monster, and how does that stimulate an apathetic nation, if it does at all?
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It's not only TV shows, but also movies.
Non-Stop: "The twist, which is revealed in the trailer, is that the terrorist mastermind (a veteran) behind this stunt has figured out a way to manipulate matters so that Neeson's disgruntled marshal appears to be a hijacker holding everyone hostage. It doesn't help that he keeps waving his gun and roughing up the passengers while increasing the ever-present post-9/11 levels of paranoia."
It drives me insane. I won't watch this movie. I'm gonna have to search statistics in this matter. I mean when you have people like this: "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she was briefed before the release of a controversial intelligence assessment and that she stands by the report, which lists returning veterans among terrorist risks to the U.S." labeling Veterans, it's easy for those to JUMP to conclusions.
Non-Stop: "The twist, which is revealed in the trailer, is that the terrorist mastermind (a veteran) behind this stunt has figured out a way to manipulate matters so that Neeson's disgruntled marshal appears to be a hijacker holding everyone hostage. It doesn't help that he keeps waving his gun and roughing up the passengers while increasing the ever-present post-9/11 levels of paranoia."
It drives me insane. I won't watch this movie. I'm gonna have to search statistics in this matter. I mean when you have people like this: "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she was briefed before the release of a controversial intelligence assessment and that she stands by the report, which lists returning veterans among terrorist risks to the U.S." labeling Veterans, it's easy for those to JUMP to conclusions.
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PO1 Aaron Baltosser
I've seen that claim. It sounds like complete bullshit. No returning Veteran I know has ever caused any negative contact with law enforcement, or endangered anyone around them, much less masterminded any terrorist events. I hope the public can see through that manufactured smoke screen and realize the 'terrorists' in this case are members of our own government who refuse to do a real security risk assessment in the country.
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SGT (Join to see)
Manufactured smoke liberal screen. I hate to put the blame on someone, but it is the truth. Some people will actually believe that bullshit.
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While people have the right to make TV shows and movies like this, people (my family and I included) also have the right to refuse to support anything which shows the military in a bad light. We will not allow people who are anti-military to make money off of us.
While we may be hard targets in real life, our images are soft targets. It's an easy avenue of approach to earn advertising dollars. It's just one more example of the sad downfall of a once great American society.....
While we may be hard targets in real life, our images are soft targets. It's an easy avenue of approach to earn advertising dollars. It's just one more example of the sad downfall of a once great American society.....
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How ironic, I just watched the first season of the real Hawaii 5-0 last week. It had about 1/4 of the episodes with Vietnam vets who "snapped." I think writers fall back on the stereotype when they draw a blank for the next week's episode. I fart in their general direction.
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PO2 Steven Erickson
MAJ Chris Ballard, MSG Tom Earley and SFC Mark Merino ...
"I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal-food-trough-wiper!"
Gentlemen... "I swear on me mum" that I can pick up the dialogue without failure from ANY instantaneously-provided point in that movie.
I'm a nuke, a bubblehead, I have a degree in physics, and I can quote Monty Python on command...
Yet, somehow, I managed to marry a woman who shares NONE of those interests, stay married to her for 25 years, and father three kids. Incontrovertible proof of a benevolent God...
7:^D
"I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal-food-trough-wiper!"
Gentlemen... "I swear on me mum" that I can pick up the dialogue without failure from ANY instantaneously-provided point in that movie.
I'm a nuke, a bubblehead, I have a degree in physics, and I can quote Monty Python on command...
Yet, somehow, I managed to marry a woman who shares NONE of those interests, stay married to her for 25 years, and father three kids. Incontrovertible proof of a benevolent God...
7:^D
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SFC Mark Merino
We need to start a Monty Python support group. Ever try explaining Monty Python to a Japanese woman?
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This isn't new. Hollywood has been doing this for a long time now. As an impressionable young lad growing up in the '70's, I remember watching a lot of the TV shows back then depicting a Vietnam war vet (Wearing their OD green field jacket) as being a crazy, gun toting killer. It's Hollywood. If anyone believes that, they need to have a talk with a real veteran.
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The entertainment industry relies on stereotypes. Most of the writers do not personally know veterans, so they mostly pick up what they know from other writers (who know from other writers). It's not just vets, though. Think of all the "dirty cops," the "rogue agents," the "shadowy government agencies," and the list goes on and on.
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SFC Mark Merino
Exactly. Great for ratings, bad for reality. Now call off your black helicopters...lol
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SGT Ben Keen I will start by saying that Hollywood of late has been more about regurgitation than it has been about creativity. We have had remakes, sequels, and attempts to jump on what is popular right now foisted upon us as entertainment.
Why does a "broken" veteran make such a compelling character? It is simple. This is the movie villain that the audience is going to hope gains redemption rather than just being a punching bag for the hero. A good fictional example of this is Ed Harris in The Rock. He plays a Marine General tired of seeing the memory of his troops buried. He takes action to bring attention to it. He is not an evil character, he is simply a soldier who has been pushed beyond his abillity to take it. By the end of the movie a feeling of sympathy is evoked.
A more recent example is the movie American Sniper. I will not go into the details about the film, but if you watch the end of the film, note the appearance of the veterans that Chris Kyle is helping, and the music. Note the change when the man who killed him appears on screen. Without any dialogue, you can tell that this is the guy.
Why does a "broken" veteran make such a compelling character? It is simple. This is the movie villain that the audience is going to hope gains redemption rather than just being a punching bag for the hero. A good fictional example of this is Ed Harris in The Rock. He plays a Marine General tired of seeing the memory of his troops buried. He takes action to bring attention to it. He is not an evil character, he is simply a soldier who has been pushed beyond his abillity to take it. By the end of the movie a feeling of sympathy is evoked.
A more recent example is the movie American Sniper. I will not go into the details about the film, but if you watch the end of the film, note the appearance of the veterans that Chris Kyle is helping, and the music. Note the change when the man who killed him appears on screen. Without any dialogue, you can tell that this is the guy.
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SPC (Join to see)
Haven't seen the Chris Kyle movie, or read the book. Is it worth the time? I'm as patriotic as the next guy, and this guy's probably a hero, but the pro-america circle-jerk really turns me off to a lot of media (e.g. Fox news, Red Dawn (2012), etc. . .). It's just rarely entertaining for me.
PO3 Steven Sherrill
PO3 Steven Sherrill
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
SPC (Join to see) This movie is hardly a "pro America circle jerk" it depicts Chris Kyle as a man, not some superhuman sniping machine. It also depicts Taya Kyle as more than just the stand by your man military wife. The movie goes through a full range of human emotions. There is anger, denial, death, and yes it does have action as well. Over all, before the end of the movie, as an audience, there is a sense of relief that Chris Kyle is returning home. It is almost like the depiction of an addict going through an intervention. Only in this case it is not a drug, it is fighting a war.
I would recommend the movie. I have not read the book, and after watching the movie I do not intend to read it either. I don't care if the book is better. I enjoyed the movie.
As a side note, Bradley Cooper was excellent in this movie. To see him go from the Hangover part 1-whatever to this was amazing.
I would recommend the movie. I have not read the book, and after watching the movie I do not intend to read it either. I don't care if the book is better. I enjoyed the movie.
As a side note, Bradley Cooper was excellent in this movie. To see him go from the Hangover part 1-whatever to this was amazing.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
If you have Amazon prime, and you don't want to buy it, I would suggest waiting until you can rent it on Amazon instant video.
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I hear you! Let's take it a little further. First, I refuse to watch these half witted TV shows jsut for the reason you state. I really am getting tired of seeing military members being show cased as either idiots or deranged individuals. So does this have an impact? You bet it does. There seems to be a trend out there among corporations to not hire ex-military that have been in combat. It is the PTSD scare that is creating a distrust among corporate leaders. Unfortunately I doubt any of them or at least very few have really looked into PTSD to understand it. Might I point out that you do not have to serve a single day in the military to have PTSD.. Police, fire fighters, medical responders all have the potential to end up dealing with PTSD.
Lets get people smart. Again, I would not and will not watch these TV shows or movies that portray the military in a negative light..
Lets get people smart. Again, I would not and will not watch these TV shows or movies that portray the military in a negative light..
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SPC (Join to see)
Well, i suppose it's all personal preference. I find the behavior listed in OP distracting and makes the show not entertaining, and that's why I won't watch it. However, I think MASH is hilarious, and anti-military as it can be at times.
I'd suggest scaling it back a bit. Might miss a good show.
I'd suggest scaling it back a bit. Might miss a good show.
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SGT Ben Keen
SMSgt Donald Polaski - I think you bring up a great point. And that is the lack of understanding of what it is to truly have PTSD and to work with it rather than against it.
I'm very open about my PTSD, I have to be or else some people would call the padded wagon when they see some of my behaviors. While we all accept the fact that some of us feel more comfortable eating out at a table where we can see the exit and where we aren't surrounded by others. For others they see this and ask "What's wrong with him?"
The other point I like about your comment is that yes, you don't have to serve in the military to have PTSD. I often tell people that PTSD is a result of my brain having a NORMAL reaction to a ABNORMAL situation.
I'm very open about my PTSD, I have to be or else some people would call the padded wagon when they see some of my behaviors. While we all accept the fact that some of us feel more comfortable eating out at a table where we can see the exit and where we aren't surrounded by others. For others they see this and ask "What's wrong with him?"
The other point I like about your comment is that yes, you don't have to serve in the military to have PTSD. I often tell people that PTSD is a result of my brain having a NORMAL reaction to a ABNORMAL situation.
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I would think that there are vets who are more broken than the pseudo-stereotypes depicted on TV and the movies. I think one of my favorite portrayals is Leroy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS. Yes he has his over the top moments but the guy is a fighter who perseveres despite his personal demons. How he hasn't gone to the dark side yet, perplexes me. I think his "Alpha Male" persona that he hides behind is a bit over the top and almost super-human and I don't think you'd find many that could do what he does for as long as he's done it.
I think true veteran "survivors" do break down and are emotionally vulnerable and I doubt any of them are going to go "Rambo" anytime soon, despite what we see on film.
I think true veteran "survivors" do break down and are emotionally vulnerable and I doubt any of them are going to go "Rambo" anytime soon, despite what we see on film.
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