Lynch

[MM38084]

It would have made for such a graceful exit.

Former POW Jessica Lynch could have granted one big interview to relate her story and set the record straight. The former Army private could have told ABC's Diane Sawyer that she is a survivor, not a hero, and exited stage left to live her life.

Instead, Lynch embarked on a media blitz timed around the release of her new book and the broadcast of the TV movie about her capture and rescue in the Iraq war. Every step of the way on this whirlwind tour, Lynch sheepishly admitted that she is not worthy of all the attention. Yet, she kept making stop after stop, thrusting herself into the spotlight.

Lynch claims modestly that she's no more worthy of accolades than the others in her Army unit. Yet, when Glamour magazine named her one of its 25 "women of the year," the 20-year-old Lynch showed up at the ritzy ceremony to accept her award.

What's with this girl?

Listen to her talk and she seems like a pleasant young woman with no visions of stardom or fame. But to look at her promotional schedule, she seems to be competing with Britney Spears for who can generate the most media buzz in the space of a week.
If Lynch is coming forward after all these months to humbly state that she is not deserving of a whirlwind of attention, then why does she seem to bask in the media spotlight?

I don't want to believe that Lynch is a hypocrite, but she can be viewed as shrewd. After all, she waited until after she landed a $1 million book deal and then essentially said, "You've got the wrong girl."The right girl, we have learned, was actually a guy. The reports of Rambo-like courage demonstrated during the ambush of Lynch's unit should have been attributed to Sgt. Donald Walters, a mechanic who killed several Iraqis and fought to his death.


Walters' parents are among those who long ago grew weary of the puffed-up Jessica Lynch story. Patrick Miller, who systematically gunned down eight Iraqis to protect Lynch's unit, was the first POW to express resentment about Lynch.Despite a strategic release date on Veterans Day, her book is off to a slow start. The heavily publicized Sawyer interview with Lynch was beaten out in the ratings game by an Andy Griffith Show reunion. The made-for-TV movie posted a disappointing number of viewers.

Lynch has had her 15 million minutes of fame. Maybe America is telling her to get off the stage. On talk-radio and the cable TV news shows, the backlash against her is well under way.Lynch seems to be on the cutting edge of a new phenomenon - the military celebrity. And she may simply be part of the reality TV generation, in which looks and fame are everything, and anyone who has never been on TV is nobody. One of the few other soldiers who fought in Iraq to receive national media attention was an Army helicopter pilot who was part of People magazine's 25 hottest bachelors.

In the midst of this infantile media mentality, it may be that Lynch is getting bad advice from publicists and handlers.I do know that her ability to survive a long list of horrific injuries certainly shows she's not lacking in tenacity or determination. So, I wish her well. I wish her a happy marriage and a successful career, realizing her dream to become a kindergarten teacher.


And I hope she comes to the realization some day that she was simply an ordinary girl who, for nine days in Iraq and seven months in America, was caught up in some extraordinary circumstances.

[the humper]

in a position, where she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. And at her age, she is being led by some hustlers who will make more off that situation than she will!! Anyone at 20 years of age that can say, they always knew the correct thing to do, will change their minds after some time passes!!!!
SF
NC

[melody1181]

Give her a break!!! No one knows what its like being her. Like none of us wouldn't do some of the same things.

[39mto39g]

She should , 1st. tell the truth, 2nd. take the media and everyone else for as much as she can.
If someone wants to give her a million for a book, take it. some wants to giver her 20,000 for an interview, take it , if someone wants to giver 10 million for a movie, take it.
Then go sit in your big old house and count your money.

Ron

[Mom]

I can see her (Lynch) point. I also happen to live in the same area as a young man's family who wanted his name rembered as a hero. He died fighting. AND was the sort of person you could count on in a pinch....any pinch. He deserves more then what he got. And that includes death. Anyone know who goofed?

[philly]

The other POWs should have received the same amount of media exposure as Lynch. The Army and the media turned Lynch into America's Heroine without any help from her. Many people would jump at the opportunities she has been given. I don't fault her for taking opportunities presented to her. She'll have a brighter financial future.

[reeb]

BUT;

Does really deserve or need the 80% disability????

enough............

[Gimpy]

Yeah, she DOES deserve it!

Eligibility Criteria.................. In order to qualify for this benefit program, you or your family member must have a military service connected disability, injury or disease and must not have been dishonorably discharged



United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38 Sec. 3.4

?3.4 Compensation.

(a) Compensation. This term means a monthly payment made by the Department of Veterans Affairs to a veteran because of service-connected disability, or to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of a veteran because of the service-connected death of the veteran occurring before January 1, 1957, or under the circumstances outlined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. If the veteran was discharged or released from service, the discharge or release must have been under conditions other than dishonorable. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101(2), (13))

(b) Disability compensation.

(1) Basic entitlement for a veteran exists if the veteran is disabled as the result of a personal injury or disease (including aggravation of a condition existing prior to service) while in active service if the injury or the disease was incurred or aggravated in line of duty. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1110, 1131)

(2) An additional amount of compensation may be payable for a spouse, child, and/or dependent parent where a veteran is entitled to compensation based on disability evaluated as 30 per centum or more disabling. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1115)

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She took an oath to this country. She wore the uniform and served with distinction. If you want to "blame" someone or something for the "mis-information" surrounding her "story". Then, look to the Pentagon and the curent leadership of our government. THAT'S where the blame lies!

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[Keith_Hixson]

Well we sure have variety of opinions. So I'll say one that shouldn't be controversial, she sure is a pretty girl.

Keith

[Mom]

I agree with Gimpy. She got HURT. So did others. They are entitled to it as well.