Let me begin by saying that I love all things to do with military history and hardware! This love was developed early in life. It was fed, in my adult years, through the military programming from the History and Discovery Channels; and to a lesser extent, G4. I'm writing this because my frustration with today's military televised offerings has reached boiling point! I've written numerous emails to these networks, but they keep running the same OLD STALE shows! What exactly do I mean? Well Let me explain:
In America we live in an educational bubble, partly driven by patriotism. When it comes to patriotism in programming it can become propaganda! The History Channel (now Military History Channel, since History Channel has become a reality show vehicle); and Discovery's Wings Channel, then Military Channel, (before becoming the theme-confused American Heroes Channel). have always run shows on military history. The problem is: IT'S THE SAME OLD STUFF NOW! I understand that defeating Germany/Hitler was paramount to our current democracy existing...but hasn't anything else happened since then worth EDUCATING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON??? Keep in mind that every so often, news anchors bring up how lost American students and adults are in world history and basic geography. We constantly hear about the United States' superpower rivalries with China and Russia. But, how many Americans even know the history between those two countries since the Korean War? How many can even find either country on a map!!! History & Discovery, why haven't you ever run a show on the battles between the Soviets & Chinese in the late 20th Century? Hmmmm, how many American's even know that after our Vietnam War (another subject that has been focused heavily on), there was ANOTHER VIETNAM WAR involving VIETNAM AND CHINA IN 1979??? If you want to expand beyond the post-WWII era -- why are the only wars worth visually documenting for Americans American wars??? There was a whole world before -- AND AFTER -- the formation of the American Colonies. Might be nice to have a real documentary focusing on the Great Northern War, or the Japanese military activity in ancient Korea (Korea is always in the news -- Hint)! Oh, I forgot, you love to focus on the Romans & Greeks too! Somehow the episodes on Roman or Greek conquest always say that their efforts covered the "known world." Now that's just White Supremacist cultural and historical propaganda! Neither empire covered the whole earth; and the boundaries of said empires "Were Known!" If you lose battles of expansion on your borders, or are intimidated (in Alexander the Great's case by Indian armies) into pulling back those borders, then it's obvious that you see the land/people yonder who just thwarted your ambitions! All of that wealth in deepest Black Africa and the GREAT Romans and their expansion extended only to the northern parts of Africa. yet they conquered the "Known World." If you're going to "Teach" facts then at least be honest and factual without cultural or racial bias!
Secondly: Military Hardware. Can you please update thses old tired shows! There are still episodes running talking about the future of the EFV; and that program was cancelled long ago! Running shows on the P-51 Mustang; when our future warfighters watching those shows will be facing Mig-35's, Su-35's,Su-47/50's (PAK=FA), J-20's and J-31's. The Russians have gone beyond the T-90, but OUR programs are THREE GENERATIONS BEHIND on enemy armor, still basking in the defeat of T-72's in Iraq. Are you TV Execs afraid that showing modern enemy military hardware will hurt military recruitment?
Thirdly, to the American Heroes Channel: "American Heroes" would make one think that the subject matter focuses on "American Heroes!" With that being the case, why is so much of the media there focused squarely on Hitler and the Nazis; and Jesus and the Bible? None of that fits the definition gleaned from YOUR OWN NAME! Are you trying to raise a generation of bible thumping Nazis???
If you want better military and military history programming from these networks -- CONTACT THEM LIKE I HAVE! Tweet it! Share it! Write emails! Let them know that unless they give you something worth watching, you will switch channels -- or simply turn off the tv like I often do. MILITARY ENTHUSIASTS, FUTURE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS -- MAKE THEM HEAR YOUR VOICES!!!
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