“the Pentagon had ordered the National Guard to provide a “persistent presence” to disperse the crowds”. Is our military discipline so changed that when the Pentagon orders the National Guard to aid in providing “persistent presence”, two Guard pilots gets wind of this order, walks out on the line, picks out the ride of their choice…and “cowboy” perform a rotor-wash dispersal technique…without any direction from superiors in between? No way! These pilots were ordered to do a specific job, in specific helos, at a specific location, for a specific time, performing specific maneuvers, for a specific purpose. But the news reporting suggests, it will take an investigation on these two “cowboys” as if they are as rogue as the Minneapolis cop who knee-choked Floyd to death.
In addition, I saw plenty of blue lights flashing at the intersection shown, with a crowd that was far from out-of-control, spending more time taking cell phone videos of the helos than protesting.
To me, this is is a demonstration of purposeful manipulation of information designed to continually fan the flames of emotionalism to keep the country in a state of constant unrest, debate, and divided. As a result, we have now another “investigation” to “uncover” the details of who ordered what, when, and how as if we have a military that is inept trying to do what an equally inept portrayed police force cannot do.
I have no sympathy for anyone, military or police who exhibits, demonstrates, and sanctions any unnecessary, therefore excessive force that harms the suspect. The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Neither do I sanction racial profiling. But I also do not sanction news reporting that seems to have lost it’s ability and desire to report the facts.
I realize that Avweb is simply showing an aviation related video in addition to quoting the original news story. We are all digesting what we have seen via the video, coming to some conclusions and opinions based on the original NY Times story combined with all of the information we have been exposed to in our respective homes. For me, this is another classic demonstration of purposeful manipulation of event reporting designed specifically to keep us divided.
I am sick of this constant political barrage on every venue including aviation or health-wise. I cannot fix this. My opinion matters little. I don’t like feeling helpless, but I do. And I am not alone. I have performed in the military, and while far from perfect, it is not entirely staffed by a bunch of lawless buffoons either. And as an older citizen, I am not a lawless buffoon, I still have my senses, and resent the onslaught on what’s left of my common sense.
I appreciate that Avweb shared this as I have tried to stay away from mainstream media for all of the above reasons. It is a an aviation newsworthy story. I still love all things aviation, even if main-stream media attempts to make two military pilots look like independent aerial cowboys. But it is a stark reminder of this ongoing battle for our collective minds.