Dear Media Folks With reference to your broadcast yesterday: Pentagon Briefing: Good Conditions for Detainees Aired January 22, 2002 - 10:59 ET   What is Wrong With THIS Picture? Has America lost it's reasoning senses? I thought I had seen it all, till this morning's live broadcast on CNN of the Press Conference held by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with a whole room full of those wonderful people known as The Media...... What is wrong with the Media these days? Do they even realize how they come across to the public? Are they so hard up for news stories they just don't care what it is that they are covering just so long as they can turn it into some sensational story? I'm sorry, but I was thoroughly disgusted watching Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld being deluged by questions of "treatment" to the American turned Taliban detainee, Mr. Walker. It plain sickened me to the point of shutting the TV off. Excuse me, BUT where are all these media hounds when the treatment of our Veterans Health is of concern to the public? Where are these questions of concern for a "detainee" when one of "OUR" AMERICAN MILITARY, is missing, such as is still the case regarding, Gulf War Pilot, Lieutenant Commander Michael Scott Speicher shot down over Iraq, on Jan. 17, 1991. I wonder how he is being treated? Where was this concern regarding those still held POW in Vietnam all these years? When was the last time YOU heard anything being hit this hard in the media, regarding concern for OUR military service people who are being detained? And these cockamamie statements like, "he was young and didn't know what he was doing." "He was brainwashed." Well, so are our service folk who sign up to defend our country. They are young when they join or as in the past where drafted. And how about, when I get told, "well, yes but that was/is their job, to go to war. Okay, well, it was this Walker's job to kill Americans, just by joining the Taliban movement, by his voluntary choice! It sure wasn't to play checkers! So WHY all this concern over how he is treated and NOTour Veterans who come home to have to start life all over. Sometimes, homeless, financial loss and health loss not to mention the ultimate sacrifice of loss of life? Where is the balance here? I see none. Where is the justice here? I see none. I just can't believe that the Public is more interested and concerned about the well being of a man who by his own choice, sides up with folks who kill his fellow countrymen. But then why should I be surprised when for how long we had to put up with the Media's indulgence to the scandalous affairs of a "Public Figure" (not mentioning any names here). This stuff they jump all over. But "important" concerns of our own public, everyday folk, just lay at the wayside, because, as one reporter told me, "it is not newsworthy, the public is not interested." Something is very, very wrong with this picture. And yes, I am sending a copy of this letter to CNN, as well as a few others, to let my feelings be known. After all, if I have to listen to THEIR concerns, then I feel they should have the courtesy to listen to mine. They are supposed to be representing the PUBLIC. Well they aren't representing my views. Now, I may be the only one who feels this way, and maybe I just have my head buried in the sand, but I have had enough of all this so called representation that I have, and nothing I feel, being represented. I guess I must be alone. I guess they go with how the majority of the public feel and that will be their answer to me. Well, that's just plain sickening and I would venture to say untrue. It's almost like the Media represents the opposite of what the Public thinks or feels. It's like if we say it is white, they will do every thing through their media ways, to convince us it is black. And don't tell me, "Veterans/Military" is not a National issue. Please..., we have veterans in Britain, Australia, Canada and other places across the globe being treated with the same indifferent attitude. That's pretty National I would think. When will America wake up? Don't they realize it is their sons and daughters, or grandchildren that this will affect? Is this what we want to leave as our legacy to our children? I think that is so sad. Not something I am especially proud of at all. My children, now grown know the deal. But now, what do I tell my grandchildren when they want to know about their Uncle who changed when he came back from being a soldier. How do I answer them when they ask, "Can't someone help him Grandma, and make him like he was?" How can I tell them? He did his job and it's done. Now.. "No One Really Cares." WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?   The opinions expressed in this email are solely my own. Courtesy of my friends and family members, who have sacrificed and defended that right, which allows me to do so.    DStormMom PROUD Mother of 2 Sons who served in the Gulf War, and of my 3rd and youngest, who currently serves in today's present situation. GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY and VETERANS!