(this is an editorial piece of the christopherweeks publication…these views do reflect the opinion of the leadership of this blog)

Over the weekend I was loaned a book to read. I wanted something new to occupy my time so I could get off this COVID19 nightmare that seems to be looping non-stop in the recesses of my fevered mind.

The book that my friend dropped off at my house to read is called “Band of Brothers.” Yes, it is the same story that was made popular by the HBO miniseries about the story of Easy Company, the 506th Parachute Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in the US Army. It is really a great read because Stephen Ambrose is a detailed writer who brings up amazing facts about every aspect of Army life during the WW2 years.

One of the most interesting topics he discusses in his book is what he calls, “classic chickensh_ t” behavior that often is displayed in the ranks of your average Army personnel. Since I am a pastor, I choose not to spell the whole word “chickensh_t” because some people will think I no longer am a pure person – – so instead, I will put an underscore in the word pretending like we all don’t know what the full word actually is saying, even though we do. 

What is “chickensh_t” behavior?

Leading the 506th Regiment were two strong-minded men: one was First Lt. Herbert Sobel and the other was Second Lt. Richard Winters. Sobel was a “petty tyrant” who had no friends and was hated by the majority of the men. Winters, on the other hand, was an incredible soldier and was beloved by everyone who served under him. One of the members in his unit said, “you liked (Winters) so much you would do anything not to let him down.” Sobel acquired a deep seeded jealousy of Winters, and as a result,  he became, “very domineering toward all of the men” to prove he had absolute power. There was “no give-and-take” when he gave a command, one officer said, no matter how harsh and unfair it seemed.

To describe Sobel’s mental perspective toward Winters, the author Ambrose wrote something that I never heard explained before, but I recognized the behavior instantly because it happens everywhere jealousy rears its ugly head. Listen close:

“Anyone who has ever been in the army knows the type. Sobel was the classic chickensh_ t. He generated maximum anxiety over matters of minimum significance.” 

Quoting another writer on chickensh_t behavior, Paul Fussell, he continues, “chickensh_ t is behavior that makes military life worse than it need be: petty harassment of the weak by the strong; open scrimmage for power and authority and prestige; sadism thinly disguised as necessary discipline; a constant ‘paying off of old scores’; and insistence on the letter rather than the spirit of the ordinances…it is small minded and ignoble and takes the trivial seriously.”

And then the final word on chickensh_t behavior that sums up the biggest problem of all with it: “Chickensh_t can be best recognized instantly because it never has anything to do with winning the war.”

As this concept of “chickensh_t” was rolling around through my mind I realized in a flash, that it perfectly described the attitude the popular media has taken toward the current administration’s strategy on solving the COVID19 problem. Instead of wanting to honestly “win the war” together against this dreaded virus, the media and pundits would rather score points against their political rivals and belittle the people who have supported the current administration since the election in 2016. 

And I believe this desire of “paying off of old scores” and harboring “petty jealousies” in their articles and news stories are both obvious and may permanently damage our economy and emotional health as a nation for many years to come. Journalism, mainstream media, and even the supposed scientific consensus on how to view this, has turned our collective news industry into a bunch of people who would rather spew chickensh_t than finding an actual way to help us all get through this dreaded disease together. 

I know much of the reaction to what I just wrote will argue that the blame must be placed at the feet of our President with his banal rhetoric and simplistic sounding solutions. I understand how genuine criticism can be focused on his use of vague language to communicate specifics, or how he still holds childish grudges against the seeming unfair treatment he received in his first two years in office. But that gives no excuse for how the media is blatantly waging an “open scrimmage for power” over the minds of average Americans who just want to live without being scared to death. Even some governors are insisting on enforcing the “letter of the law” keeping everyone at home, when the “spirit of the ordinance” would let reasonable portions of the working populace go back to work because they are statistically not going to raise the threat of the virus.

What is the purpose of journalism?

“The purpose of journalism,” write Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in The Elements of Journalism, “is not defined by technology, nor by journalists or the techniques they employ.” Rather, “the principles and purpose of journalism are defined by something more basic: the function news plays in the lives of people.”

“News is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing events, issues, and characters in the world outside. Though it may be interesting or even entertaining, the foremost value of news is as a utility to empower the informed. The purpose of journalism is thus to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments.”

So far, through this COVID19 crisis, most of our popular journalism has not come close to accomplishing this goal. Report after report seems to be weighted heavy with stories detailing how “the President got it wrong,” or how “The President and Fauci disagree.” And to help bring about the most damage to the popularity of the President, it seems the media would rather sadistically highlight the bad news and ramp up heat against the President with their dire prognostications. As a result the daily news has most Americans terrified of leaving their houses and convinced them to be more than willing to give up most of their freedom without a fight.

This is not responsible journalism, in fact it is chickensh_t. Instead of making this political, let’s all work reasonably together to find serious solutions and offer balanced facts. If you think they have been reporting fairly, I ask you to watch this clip by Tucker Carlson titled, “Are Some of Our Leaders Addicted to Doom and Gloom?”

The Elements of Journalism teach that “Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. It is not the truth in the absolute or philosophical or scientific sense but rather a pursuit of the truths by which we can operate on a day-to-day basis.”

Are we being helped with operating on a day to day basis, or are we following the script of a slanted media and self-righteous scientific community who want us to believe their predetermined narrative, “If you leave your house those you love will die.” Is this really true or is this “making life worse than it need be”? Again, is our media following the journalistic “obligation to the truth wherever it leads” or are they foistering on us a completely “chickensh_t” response?

The Health of the Mind Matters Too

Kovach and Rosenstiel write, “This ‘journalistic truth’ is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, subject to further investigation.

Its first loyalty is to citizens The theory underlying the modern news industry has been the belief that credibility builds a broad and loyal audience and that economic success follows in turn. In that regard, the business people in a news organization also must nurture – not exploit – their allegiance to the audience ahead of other considerations.”

But instead of nurturing and caring for the audience that needs encouragement and hope, top news agencies seem to me to be exploiting the crisis at the expense of massive anxiety and a willingness to give up freedom without a fight. (And if you do fight because you feel your rights are being taken away you become a persona-non-grata, reviled and cast aside like a leper). Here is a front page headline from today’s New York Times, “He Could Have Seen What Was Coming: Behind Trump’s Failure on the Virus.” Forget the historical context of China lying, a woke media bashing the President for restricting travel from China, calling the policy xenophobic, or not publishing the established fact that the biggest single factor in those who are hospitalized in New York is “obesity and old age”.

No, don’t focus on the truth, journalists like a dog on a bone, hang on to the hatred that feeds you.

The End of Sobel”s Chickensh_t

The jealousy that drove First Lt. Sobel against Second Lt. Winters reached its peak a few months before the bloody invasion of Normandy was to take place. Sobel filed a request for Winters to have a trial by “Courts Martial” for failing to inspect the latrines at 0945. Sobel’s original order was for Winters and one of his men to clean them at 1000, but decided later to move the time of cleaning up 15 minutes. Winters never officially received the change in the order, but that did not matter to Sobel. He pressed the issue before the military court. Winters fought the order without success. Eventually Winters had enough of Sobel’s juvenile games and wrote to those in higher command, “I give up. Go ahead and shoot me.” As a result, Winters was transferred out and made a battalion mess officer which was a massive insult to Winters.

It seemed that Lt. Sobel finally won. His jealousy found a way to bring down his foremost rival. Now without competition from Winters, Sobel was fully in charge. 

However, this silly court filing did not go over well with any of the men from E company. In fact, they all gave the higher up leadership an ultimatum: Either Soble be replaced and Winters returned, or they would all turn in their stripes. Sobel may have thought he won, but instead his chickensh_t behavior infuriated the whole battalion, and an actual mutiny was close to being staged.

As it turned out, the Army found another place for Sobel to be transferred without losing rank, and Winters was returned to the Easy company, which was a complete relief and satisfaction to the men.  The lesson is clear: Chickensh_t behavior may win in the short term, but it won’t last for the whole duration of the long term when a real life battle is to be waged.

I think if we are going to survive this crisis as a unified nation we need to listen to more reasonable voices than our mainstream chickensh_t journalists. But who will step up and lead? Who will give us facts without spin? I really don’t know.

God help us all.