Why did this not make headline news...?

Question

July 09, 2007
Media Silence on Antiwar Violence (updated)
Patrick Poole
An Air Force airman was shot by antiwar protestor on July 4th, but the establishment media and liberal blogs yawn. Airman Jonathan Schrieken, 22, is fighting for his life after being shot in the heart by a gunman intending to make an antiwar statement, while standing outside his home near McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey on July 4th. Airman Schrieken, a loadmaster with the 6th Airlift Squadron based at McGuire, remains in critical condition at a Camden, New Jersey hospital.

The antiwar gunman, Matthew J. Marren, killed himself after shooting Schrieken and left two suicide notes explaining that he was "mad at the government".


Meanwhile, the establishment media ignores the story. The initial Associated Press report on the incident never mentioned Marren's motive for shooting Schrieken. The first media outlet to discuss Marren's intent to make an antiwar statement on the 4th of July by killing a member of our military was Phillyburbs.com, and the story has only gained national attention after a post over the weekend at LittleGreenFootballs.com.


A member of Marren's family described to Phillyburbs.com his reasons behind the attack:

Marren's aunt, Terina Henderson of Trion, Ga., said she spoke to Marren's mother yesterday who told her Marren left two notes, one in his home and one in his car, indicating he was upset with the government.

She said she did not know the exact wording in the notes, but said Marren was "mad at the government and wanted to make a statement ... that's why he did what he did on the Fourth of July."
Over at LGF, a friend of the Schrieken family described the attack:

He had been on leave here in Ohio and got back to his home off base and was unpacking stuff from his car when this 22 year old guy walked up to him and asked him if he lived in the house. When Jon said yes, the guy said "not any more" and shot him point blank in the chest. He tried to shoot him again, but his gun jammed. Jonathan made it into the house. The guy then shot himself.
This makes it clear that Marren had nothing short of murder on his mind. Providentially, the gun jammed, allowing for Schrieken to escape into his house, where he lived with several other Airmen.


If Airman Schrieken had been an abortionist or homosexual, this story would be front page news for the New York Times and the lead story on CBS News with Katie Couric for at least the next month. But since Schrieken is serving in the military, even his hometown newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, has ignored this story.


Predictably, a law enforcement spokesman says that Marren's suicide notes "were indicative of an individual suffering from mental-health problems", but that raises the question of how anyone could identify anyone suffering from mental-health problems amidst those devoted to bizarre conspiracy theories and the virulent anti-Americanism of the antiwar movement. If anything, Marren would have fit right in unnoticed.


It is also worth noting that Marren was merely following the logic of the anti-war movement's standard public rhetoric. Their language is laced with suggestive undertones justifying attacks against our military, calling our armed forces fighting the War on Terror "baby-killers", constantly invoking the specter of Abu Ghraib, and citing their grossly inflated statistics of civilians accidentally killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such reckless and unbalanced rhetoric (they're not quite as adept at keeping statistics on those murdered by terrorists) fuels the hatred that drives someone like Marren to violence against a member of our own military.


Antiwar supporters will no doubt disclaim any responsibility for Marren's attack, but in any other circumstance involving someone engaged in a politically incorrect crime, Leftists would not hesitate to point their fingers at the conservative movement. One might recall the attack on "right-wing talk radio" following Matthew Shepherd's murder and Hillary Clinton's indictment of the same after the Oklahoma City bombing. Add to that the attacks by the ACLU and others on the pro-life movement after the shootings of two abortion doctors in the 1990s.


But now that someone has acted on the antiwar movement's anti-military rhetoric, don't expect to hear any apologies from Cindy Sheehan, International A.N.S.W.E.R., Daily Kos, or Rep. John Murtha. And certainly don't expect the establishment media to give this heart-rending story the coverage it deserves.


I hope that Airman Schrieken will quickly and fully recover from his injuries. Realistically, his injuries may very well force him out of the military. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Schrieken family.


Update:

Readers wishing to send Airman Schieken a get-well card and thank him for his service to our country can reach him at:

Jonathan Schrieken
Room 720 by the door
Cooper University Hospital
1 Cooper Plaza
Camden NJ 08103

http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20070711/cm_uc_crmmax/op_193253

The link is provided above from YAHOO. The proof behind why he did it is in the letter he left behind.

Answer 1

There's a few simple reasons the media ignored this story. One, it makes anti-war fanatics look bad, and they don't want that, because the politicians who stir up the anti-war rhetoric might be forced to share in the blame of "stirrin' the poo". Two, because they're more than willing to beat stories like Abu Ghraib to death, but unwilling to show anti-war types doing worse things--which would mean they'd actually have to be unbiased, and they can't have that, either. Third, if they reported it, people might actually turn AGAINST fanatical anti-war types and give the support where it belongs--to those fighting this war and trying to keep Americans alive and safe back home, even those who are ungrateful for it... and if the media did that, the politicians on the same side of their bias might lose votes, and they can't have that either.

Whatever the case, there's an injured airman who has suffered at the hands of crazy anti-war protester, whose story hasn't been told widely--and that means that something like this is more likely to happen again.

Answer 2

That is sooooo sad! My heart goes out to the airman and his family. It did not make headline news because the Liberals will only talk about the Conservatives' failures.

If the people against the war want to make a statement, enacting violence is not the way. They should say it in a milder and more respectful way. There is no way that Airman Schieken should have been wounded like that. He didn't do anything.

Answer 3

This is a case of one man shooting an other because of his political beliefs, I have heard a lot of anti -immigration people advocating violence as a response to the situation and another story that was not covered by the media Marine Sgt Rafael Peralta smothered a grenade with his body in Fallujah, Iraq and saved the lives of 8 fellow Marines and his sacrifice for his country and his actions that saved the lives of our fighting men, his memory and the uniform he wore were disrespected by the anti-immigration goons, because he was born in Mexico.
I also hope that Airman Schrieken, has a speedy and safe recovery.
Thank you for your service to America.!

Answer 4

While I find this shocking, to infer that there is a liberal movement to end the war by killing our service men and women is outrageous. In my opinion, it is probably better to keep this quiet because to do otherwise may create more of the same incidents. There are many people who are mentally unbalanced in this country. Added to that, 70% of the country is unhappy with the direction of our government at this time as well as being against the war. I'm absolutely certain they aren't all liberals.

Very thoughtful to include his address.

Answer 5

what's your source - what paper was that in.

since the guy who shot the airman, also shot himself, how do you know that he was anti-war and that was the true reason for the shooting.

you can't just accuse your political opposition of being at the center of everything in the world you don't like without some sort of proof.

what's disturbing is that you don't even try to offer the slightest element of proof, other than a 'question' that looks sort of official - but has no tag lines or is ascribed to any publication.

basically, until you can prove that you just didn't make this up, or the source was deeply partisan, i'll treat it as a sad instance where more accountability in the control of guns might have saved an american hero from a senseless death...

Answer 6

Because of the fact that this is just one very pathetic and sad little man. Who in all probability is more of a threat to himself than anyone else. Some sad lonely idiot still living with mum and dad, who spends his time living in a fantasy world, is not osama bin laden. Where as our muslim friends are organised, fanatical and pretty damn successful when it comes to terrorism. Typical of the Guardian to try to make headlines with this none story, Anything to show how evil those bad white folks are. When you look at the police evidence, it's pretty plain this guy's no terrorist just a sad little fantasist. My guess is he won't be convicted of any terror crimes at best only possession of a potentially dangerous weapon.

Answer 7

Asked and answered- The media doesn't give a rat butt for some poor enlisted slob. Especially if it puts their agenda in a bad light or could lead to charges that their reporting encouraged the dipsh... that pulled the trigger- After all their stories cannot be responsible for any act like that?

I am sure they oppose the war but "Support the Troops" and that makes every thing OK, doesn't it?????

Ret. USAF SNCO

Answer 8

Please don't break this down into 'liberal' and 'conservative' camps
It was an awful thing that happened.
A young man lies fighting for life ,Innocent of any wrong and the media didn't cover the incident.
You may think the media is liberal but it seems to me there is a deeper and more sinister reason that we are told what we are told and not told what we are not told through the media.
Please drop the labels and look at the overall view.
May heaven help us all.

Answer 9

Wow!!!! Thanks for sharing this. I agree that it is outrageous that this was not reported.! I am totally against the war, but the soldiers are only doing their job. They are not responsible for this mess and should be commended at every possible turn for their dedication and willingness to serve. My friend just got back from a second tour in Iraq and this time he was wounded. This man's anger at the government should have been directed at the government, possibly by writing a letter to his congressman or senator or the president. He could have orgainized a protest march or something of that nature.

Answer 10

It really is a sad story... Unfortunately the liberal media only cares about the failures of Iraq, not the failures of liberals who shoot innocent soldiers. They NEVER focus on anything good out of Iraq....

Now if the Airman was the one who shot the liberal coward, then it probably would have made national news.... sickening