Memorial Day, Part II

The Tribune today ran a piece entitled "Many American veterans hesitate to recommend service to children." (reprinted here). It provides a nice example of the modern media's political spin.

In the article, the author notes that a "recent Pentagon poll indicated that parents who served in the military were divided almost 50-50 between those who would encourage their chidlren to enlist and those who would advise against it."

First, we can assume that a majority of such parents would actually encourage their children to enlist. Why? Because the spin of the article was that veterans discourage enlistment, so the author certainly would have pointed it out if the majority agreed with his thesis.

Second, therefore, somewhere under 50% of veterans discourage their kids from enlisting. So why is the spin that "many American veterans" don't recommend service, when more do than don't? In other words, if some number under 50% is "many," a number in excess of 50% is certainly "many." Why not spin the article as "A majority of American veterans recommend service to their children," or even "Many American veterans recommend service?"

Because the author and the press are anti-military, that's why.