It seems like there was a lot of confusion surrounding the situation in the beginning, and I can understand how a reliable account might have been difficult to get.
However, if a misreporting of the facts continues (and I predict it will) then that will be entirely based on racism in my opinion. #forthood
Let's see - a HUGE patriarchal organization puts out incomplete and erroneous information about a disaster and then doesn't correct it when more details come to light?
That's called business as usual - they never admit mistakes. #forthood
Oh, MILITARY BRASS! The real world is not a John Wayne movie, and you look way less incompetent when you wait and tell the story that *actually happened* rather than creating a fiction everyone feels they have to debunk, clarify, explain later -- often to the embarrassment of the hapless hero whose story you've overblown.
This woman was shot in the line of duty while behaving heroically. Now that you've bungled the PR on this, it's less likely Angelina Jolie will play the role, but if you had thought about it more carefully and waited to reveal the true, confirmed story, you might have been able to get Angie and added in Brad Pitt to play the equally heroic partner! #forthood
@JennaW: I don't think this is all on the military. The press and public were rabid for any information. After a major event like this things can get confusing and incorrect information can get circulated and often printed. It doesn't have to be deliberate. Now that the initial panic has died down a more detailed analysis can be made. #forthood
@Little Time Bomb: I was thinking more along the lines of Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch as this situation is reminiscent.
Also, the press is going to bark along after whatever they get and the public only remembers the first thing anyone says to it, so I take that silliness as default behavior. #forthood
@morninggloria: Yeah, this. I'm actually kind of disappointed in myself for wanting her to be the one who shot him. Is it because he reportedly didn't like to be photographed with women at work? I guess I loved the idea of him being an asshat about women and then being shot by a woman.
But life is not an action movie, and what matters is he got stopped. And the media's handling of this narrative is really pissing me off. "You're so short and little, why not call for help Sgt. Munley?" "Well, Ann Curry, I consulted our LadyCop Help Matrix and while I am short and petite, I was not on my period and therefore felt I could handle it." #forthood
There is little doubt in my mind that this story is affected by racism and sexism. The narrative of the spunky little lady who takes down the big meanie (who also happens to be not-white, while the good guy lady is) is perfect for the exception-proves-the-rule logic of women and physical power. It's a weird way of lifting one woman up in order to highlight the feminine nature of other women, like "She can do this--isn't she something!" and also coupled with a tinge of the protecting-the-hearth thing, what with her being a mom and living at the base and stuff.
Then the other side is that a story about a black man winning the battle against another not-white man isn't as heroic and picturesque. Black men with guns are scary, right, and so to tell the story of a black man with a gun would bring to mind too many scary associations for the story to be worthwhile.
So highlighting the white woman's role and at the same time downplaying the black man's role play into the same whirlwind of racist and sexist associations that the media inevitably buys into and perpetuates. But it certainly isn't conscious--I doubt anyone heard the whole story and adjusted it for their own reporting. I think probably there were indications that the reported story wasn't the whole truth, but those gaps weren't questioned or pushed because the half-truth fit into an already conveniently formed narrative.
Whatever. Both of these people are bad ass. #forthood
@Cimorene: Very thoughtful points, as usual. I can't load the videos, so it's news to me that the partner was a black man. That certainly adds another layer to the story, doesn't it? #forthood
1. Almost all of the initial reports from the Fort Hood shootings were wrong. There were reports that Hasan was dead, that there were two or three shooters, and that his name wasn't even his name. I am not surprised that reports on who actually took down Hasan would be all mangled as well. It would actually be par for the course.
2. It made for a cool narrative. The image of a physically small, highly trained woman hunting down and shooting an armed and dangerous mass murderer gave me a bit of a thrill, I'll admit, especially as it is not the kind of story we are used to hearing about. I can see why news people have run with it, because it seems to be one of those man-bites-dog stories with a bit of a girl-power (as much as I hate that term) sensibility tossed in. Of course, as cool as we might find a narrative to be, if it's not what actually happened, it should not be reported as fact. Unfortunately journalists all too often see narratives they like or understand, then will turn and try to cram the facts to fit those storylines rather than letting the storyline unfold organically. (I see this all the time in my own newsroom.) If we want to only write and talk about cool shit, then we need to go write fiction or something and leave the reporting to actual reporters. #forthood
@whynotshesaid: Your first point is what I think -- after all, eyewitness reports are not exactly bastions of accuracy. In that kind of mayhem, it's not at all unlikely that the narrative reported emerged out of muddled half-true recollections. #forthood
@whynotshesaid: Wasn't it also initially reported that some of the people killed might have been hit bu friendly fire? I'm not surprised that these accounts have turned out to be not 100% accurate either.
My mom is a paramedic and she had a co-worker who was about 5 feet tall and maybe 110 lbs. The firefighters used to tease her about being small and not strong, so she did the firefighter test. She whooped ass and then said fuck you I would rather be a paramedic (which requires lots of lifting too).
I think sexism before racism. A woman hero is a better news story because it is surprising. I also would expect it was not an intentional decision, but things changing through the grape vine as reporters and even staffers ask about the woman involved until somebody's memory changes. #forthood
@Lymed: I think it's both, but leaning I'm leaning toward racism. However, I know for a fact that the general public will spin this into a "women get all the credit just for doing their jobs" situation, and totally ignore the fact that both of them were, indeed courageous, and deserve recognition, but Senior Sgt. Todd deserves to be distinguished as the person who disarmed the shooter, and ended the ordeal.
@GirlFailer: Todd definitely deserves to be distinguished. I think the reason he wasn't though was it is easier for media to make a story about one hero, and the media is going to go to the woman because they can make it a David and Goliath story about how the little week woman shot the big bad terrorist. And the military PR people know that as well even if it was never a conscious decision.
@Lymed: I saw sexism almost immediately, when I first heard this narrative being told by a newscaster who said a "female officer" had played an important role. I found the descriptor unnecessary and problematic, while also of course feeling a deep sense of pride that a hero in this had been a woman. Naive me wondered if that might change a few macho minds about the roles of women in combat. So silly, JerseyGrrrl. #forthood
Also, this does kind of smack of the Jessica Lynch/Shoshanna Johnson situation. I'm glad that Sgt. Munley is correcting the media, and letting the world know that Senior Sgt Todd was the one who disarmed the shooter. If the media is in fact trying to glorify her acts (not that they were not courageous, but he was the one that disarmed the shooter), because she is a white woman, the least she can do is correct them.
"Curry too harps on Munley's small size, saying, "you're 5'2", 125 pounds, why didn't you call for backup?'"
The questions the media asks in these situations are the stupidest fucking questions I have ever heard. The dude was yards away from her, and she was armed. Who the fuck would think about how much they weigh, and how tall they are in that situation? Was her train of thought supposed to travel from dude shooting people in front of her to her stature before she made the decision to act because she is a woman? No one EVER asks men these questions. It's like people honestly feel that women in law enforcement, and the military think of nothing besides their gender and size all day.
@GirlFailer: Yeah, I know. It's fucking maddening. "But look at you!! You're so widdle!! How'd you manage to tote that big ol' scary gun around, hm?" This line of thought makes my head feel explodey. #forthood
@GirlFailer: Well, and the most idiotic thing about that question is that she was armed with a fucking gun. I hear pro-gun people call firearms the "great equalizer" because discrepancies in physical size, strength and power no longer matter. A 4'11" grandma in a wheelchair can kill a 6'7" 'roided-out football player if she has a gun.
*sigh* Ann Curry is such a disappointment. #forthood
@GirlFailer: There's yet another factor that no one has mentioned: military bias.
Isn't Todd is a civilian cop?
And Munley an MP?
As attractive as sexism and racism are, it would be difficult, I think, for the military to get behind that a civilian cop brought down a shooter when an MP/ battalion could not.
That said, I imagine that it all likely happened so fast that it actually is difficult to determine who brought the guy down. #forthood
I'm 15 and I have officially identified as a feminist for about 1 year and a half now, thanks in large part to Jezebel.
I'm now reading Gloria's book, "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions" and it is so illumating and insightful... To be honest, I feel like I am reading a close friend's intimate diary.
11:49 AM
However, if a misreporting of the facts continues (and I predict it will) then that will be entirely based on racism in my opinion. #forthood
11:24 AM
That's called business as usual - they never admit mistakes. #forthood
10:33 AM
This woman was shot in the line of duty while behaving heroically. Now that you've bungled the PR on this, it's less likely Angelina Jolie will play the role, but if you had thought about it more carefully and waited to reveal the true, confirmed story, you might have been able to get Angie and added in Brad Pitt to play the equally heroic partner! #forthood
11:10 AM
12:03 PM
12:10 PM
Also, the press is going to bark along after whatever they get and the public only remembers the first thing anyone says to it, so I take that silliness as default behavior. #forthood
10:27 AM
11:11 AM
But life is not an action movie, and what matters is he got stopped. And the media's handling of this narrative is really pissing me off. "You're so short and little, why not call for help Sgt. Munley?" "Well, Ann Curry, I consulted our LadyCop Help Matrix and while I am short and petite, I was not on my period and therefore felt I could handle it." #forthood
10:22 AM
I'm hope both officers get the credit they deserve. Well done by all. #forthood
10:22 AM
They're both heroes, none the less, but yeah, wish the media would stop trying to create the narrative so quickly. #forthood
09:58 AM
Then the other side is that a story about a black man winning the battle against another not-white man isn't as heroic and picturesque. Black men with guns are scary, right, and so to tell the story of a black man with a gun would bring to mind too many scary associations for the story to be worthwhile.
So highlighting the white woman's role and at the same time downplaying the black man's role play into the same whirlwind of racist and sexist associations that the media inevitably buys into and perpetuates. But it certainly isn't conscious--I doubt anyone heard the whole story and adjusted it for their own reporting. I think probably there were indications that the reported story wasn't the whole truth, but those gaps weren't questioned or pushed because the half-truth fit into an already conveniently formed narrative.
Whatever. Both of these people are bad ass. #forthood
10:47 AM
09:48 AM
1. Almost all of the initial reports from the Fort Hood shootings were wrong. There were reports that Hasan was dead, that there were two or three shooters, and that his name wasn't even his name. I am not surprised that reports on who actually took down Hasan would be all mangled as well. It would actually be par for the course.
2. It made for a cool narrative. The image of a physically small, highly trained woman hunting down and shooting an armed and dangerous mass murderer gave me a bit of a thrill, I'll admit, especially as it is not the kind of story we are used to hearing about. I can see why news people have run with it, because it seems to be one of those man-bites-dog stories with a bit of a girl-power (as much as I hate that term) sensibility tossed in. Of course, as cool as we might find a narrative to be, if it's not what actually happened, it should not be reported as fact. Unfortunately journalists all too often see narratives they like or understand, then will turn and try to cram the facts to fit those storylines rather than letting the storyline unfold organically. (I see this all the time in my own newsroom.) If we want to only write and talk about cool shit, then we need to go write fiction or something and leave the reporting to actual reporters. #forthood
09:53 AM
09:55 AM
09:45 AM
Size doesn't matter asshat Curry. #forthood
09:44 AM
09:48 AM
09:52 AM
11:39 AM
09:43 AM
09:42 AM
Only Lynch was a soldier in combat in Iraq, and Munley's a cop.
TOTAL media play, IMO. (No offense, Army) #forthood
09:39 AM
The questions the media asks in these situations are the stupidest fucking questions I have ever heard. The dude was yards away from her, and she was armed. Who the fuck would think about how much they weigh, and how tall they are in that situation? Was her train of thought supposed to travel from dude shooting people in front of her to her stature before she made the decision to act because she is a woman? No one EVER asks men these questions. It's like people honestly feel that women in law enforcement, and the military think of nothing besides their gender and size all day.
09:47 AM
09:47 AM
09:51 AM
*sigh* Ann Curry is such a disappointment. #forthood
11:09 AM
Isn't Todd is a civilian cop?
And Munley an MP?
As attractive as sexism and racism are, it would be difficult, I think, for the military to get behind that a civilian cop brought down a shooter when an MP/ battalion could not.
That said, I imagine that it all likely happened so fast that it actually is difficult to determine who brought the guy down. #forthood
11:19 AM
Edit: Yeah, she's a civilian, too. Here's the link: [www.msnbc.msn.com]
11:49 AM
09/14/09
I'm now reading Gloria's book, "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions" and it is so illumating and insightful... To be honest, I feel like I am reading a close friend's intimate diary.
09/14/09
09/14/09