Today marks the 64th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, the start of Operation Overlord. Personally, I do not like calling it "D-Day" because that is a generic term that was used before and since those events in 1944. Anyhow, that is NOT the point of this.
Perspective is what I am reaching for today.
The fine and unbiased media will remind all of us on a regular basis that over 4000 have been killed in Iraq since March 2003. Discussing and arguing over should we have gone there in the first place is a waste of breath now, the fact is that over 4000 American men and women gave their lives in that cause.
Now, the perspective for you. In the invasion and the weeks that followed, 46,000 were killed. That is about the entire population of Jefferson City, Missouri. Wounded and missing numbers were at about 173,000. Of those numbers, 29,000 Americans were killed and 106,000 wounded and missing.
The serious nature of the events are not even close in their severity. Which is sort of my point. The efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are not being addressed as strongly as what Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery, Smith, Patton and others faced in the 1940's. But, if you listen to the media you get a mixed message.
Every death, while tragic, is treated by the media another American failure. And the goals, while finally being met, the media reports spin it as they are not being hit quickly enough.
Today is time to reflect on the events of that day back in 1944. But also to wonder how Brian Williams and Katic Couric would have treated it.
You can rest assured that this would not be the same as William Shirer, Eric Severeid or Edward R. Murrow DID address it back then.
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Happy Birthday to Ol' Uncle Lar!!
Larry Lujack is 68 years old today. For those who do not recognize the name, Lawrence of Chicago was the king of the Chicago airwaves on WLS in the late 1970's until 1987.
My memories of Uncle Lar come mainly from the ride to school with my brother who played WLS, because we only had an AM and Milwaukee radio, well, sucked.
"Animal Stories" was notable, but I remember some of the stuff that he did around the 1985 Bears that cracked me up, no matter how often it was repeated.
Now a retired Hall of Famer, still a legend in this business. Even to for pinheads like me on the talk side of radio.
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Will we have a Triple Crown winner tomorrow? Big Brown has the first two legs of it, will the Belmont be added?
Sure. Why not? It has been since 1978 since Affirmed did it.
Two minutes of excitement tomorrow afternoon.
If I remember, I'll watch.
I'll remember when I get the text message from CBS Sportsline with the results.
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Have a Great Weekend.
Comments
I wanna say Lujack started at WLS in 1976. He stuck around at 'CFL after their inexcusable format change from Top 40 to MOR in '74.
You can get online and find old airchecks of his. I have a cassette copy of a couple, including the last day 'CFL was Top 40, which featured his "highly coveted and sought after" endorsement. He endorsed KHJ/Los Angeles and asked listeners to "give up rock 'n' roll."
Larry Lujack was the main reason for my interest in, love of, and eventual entrance into radio.
Posted by: Dean Morgan | June 6, 2008 04:37 PM