sat 11/18/2006
Mun2 News takes a closer look at the options young Latinos face upon graduating high school and the pros and cons of enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. This hour-long report chronicles the personal experiences of Mexican-born Diego Sosa as the 21 year-old former high school student enlists in the Marine Corps. Follow us as we travel from high school campuses to boot camp training to the halls of the Pentagon.
Download the entire 42 minute program by clicking on the iPod button above or get the highest quality version at the mun2 iTunes Music Store page.
Update: Winner of the 2006 Peabody Awards.
Nosoylatino Says:
Bravo!
Great show! You took all the serious issues seriously, with no political spinning. I can't think of another commercial TV program (or PBS either) where reality has been presented so accurately and effectively, and down to earth. None of the usual bluster and b.s. that comes with the usual political manipulating. This is the reality of all of us moderate majority of ordinary decent people, who remember the wisdom of loving thy brother (and sister) as thyself.
My demographic is old white guy. Not your usual mun2 consumer.
I am reminded of the sorrow and awe most of us felt around our killed and wounded peers during the Viet Nam war.
There never was a show like this mun2 NewsSpecial back then. There isn't any good documentation to back me up, either, but the fact is that that was the reality of our attitude - sorrow and awe. A few crazy incidents with discredited goofy-ass radicals spitting and shouting about "baby-killers" was blown up into huge right-wing propaganda about the soldiers being harrased and despised when they came home.
I'll tell you what - of all the wounded and hurt veterans I knew, white, black, and brown, I remember latino kids who ended up dead. I don't know why. It was also an ealier phase of the immigration madness. And like for the young men buried and commemorated today, I remember always knowing that those young brothers of mine were never, never going to be 30 years old, and were not going to fall in love any more, and never grow old to be here now for you guys, who need and deserve to have them here, with their wisdom, enjoying the fruits of their lives.
That's what we recognize for the young brothers (and sisters) we have been burying from misconceived wars now, Americans all, and what we have always remembered about the fallen warriors forty years ago. When you hear that Veterans then came home and were disrespected by the anti-war protesters, those are distorted and false retellings of history. It is true, there was no systematic attention given to them, by government or civilians. And as always, there were some crazy, and many angry, incidents. But most of us, most of the time, were deeply respectful, and totally horrified, and very much wanted them to be home and all in one piece.
Like now, most of us ordinary people always have taken these things seriously, and cared a lot. Look: Then like now, despite all the loud gangs of haters trying to divide us and dominate society, most of us understood that we all got here the same way -- Naked and helpless. We all deserve the same respect and caring. Americans all.
Geez. Sorry about the lecture. I guess that must be what I'm giving thanks about this thanksgiving. Anyway, like I said, Bravo! It's about you tonight, mun2. Gracias!
david bockoven
11/24/2006