Push for veterans TV channel gets a boost

You already know what I'm going to say about this one. It is about time it happened. Considering this blog is here to accomplish the same thing the Illinois Legislature is trying to do. They want a station for and about veterans.

When I go to events and gatherings the vast majority of veterans have a negative view of the media because reporters hardly ever cover any of their stories and when they do bother to show up, the veterans will see a few seconds of the report. It is heartbreaking for them. They watch the news only to find that one of them has to be in trouble to be worth the news coverage. Otherwise the news is about everything else but them.

Their stories are worthy of game developers making millions of war "games" while they actually live them out. Worthy of Hollywood putting millions into movies that rarely connect with anyone. More millions on research treating them like lab rats. (This does not include how much money it costs to train them.) Millions on taking care of their wounds, suicide prevention programs that really don't work that well, you get the idea, it goes on.

With 24 million veterans in this country and their families, that is a huge audience. If they do it right, they could very well end up starting a national movement with every state having a station for veterans. If they do it wrong, as we've seen with bad reporting turning a good story into a waste of time to read, they will reenforce how the veterans feel right now. They are just not worth the time to spend on them.

Push for veterans TV channel gets a boost
BY KAREN CAFFARINI
Correspondent December 2, 2011

Mike Jacobs

An effort to create a cable television channel dedicated exclusively to veterans programming is gaining momentum in the Illinois Legislature.

Both the House and Senate have passed a resolution urging the Cable Television and Communications Association of Illinois to look into the possibility of dedicating an unused cable channel to veterans programming, and a state senator said he is writing a bill to further the cause.

Among those pushing for the creation of a “V-Spann” channel are South Sider Mick Grady and Mark Sides, spokesman for the American Legion Department of Illinois. Each testified before the Legislature about the need for a channel to inform veterans about resources available to them, and the Senate unanimously passed the resolution Tuesday, sending it to Gov. Pat Quinn.

The House passed a resolution in May.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-Moline), who sponsored the Senate resolution, said he is writing a bill that would specify what could be done to facilitate veterans programming, including funding.

Grady, of the Mount Greenwood community, said the goal is to have a channel airing veterans-related programs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He said its main function would be to raise awareness about what veterans and their families are going through and to inform veterans about resources available to help them.
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