Iwo Jima Vets Slam Time Cover, Dismiss Global Warming As "A Joke"

Iwo Jima veterans are outraged over Time magazine's decision to use the iconic World War II image of American soldiers hoisting a flag at Iwo Jima for the latest cover on "the war on global warming." The Business & Media Institute reports Iwo Jima veterans call the Time cover a "disgrace" and dismiss global warming as a "joke":

Donald Mates, an Iwo Jima veteran, told the Business & Media Institute on April 17 that using that photograph for that cause was a "disgrace."

"It's an absolute disgrace," Mates said. "Whoever did it is going to hell. That's a mortal sin. God forbid he runs into a Marine that was an Iwo Jima survivor."

Mates also said making the comparison of World War II to global warming was erroneous and disrespectful.

"The second world war we knew was there," Mates said. "There's a big discussion. Some say there is global warming, some say there isn't. And to stick a tree in place of a flag on the Iwo Jima picture is just sacrilegious."

Another Iwo Jima veteran echoes Mates' reservations about global warming being a worth cause for a reprise of the famous scene:

Lt. John Keith Wells, the leader of the platoon that raised the flags on Mt. Suribachi and co-author of "Give Me Fifty Marines Not Afraid to Die: Iwo Jima" wasn't impressed with Time's efforts.

"That global warming is the biggest joke I've ever known," Wells told the Business & Media Institute. "[W]e'll stick a dadgum tree up somebody's rear if they want that and think that's going to cure something."

Time managing editor Rick Stengel defended the cover on MSNBC yesterday, saying:

"One of the things we do in the story is we say there needs to be an effort along the lines of preparing for World War II to combat global warming and climate change. It seems to me that this is an issue that is very popular with the voters, makes a lot of sense to them and a candidate who can actually bundle it up in some grand way and say, 'Look, we need a national and international Manhattan Project to solve this problem and my candidacy involves that.' I don't understand why they don't do that."

Watch:

Comments

[FarLeftField]

Yes, yes . . . let's hear from America's so called 'Greatest Generation' on this matter. These are the folks that brought us the suburbs and who couldn't shelve the military-industrial complex. The selfishness that so many in that generation exhibited after the war appears to be alive and well. It is a shame that these folks come to us with offerings such as this, in the place of any wisdom. Their self imposed irrelevance has only further harmed our country by practically justifying our 'cult of youth.'

I suspect that these Marines are painfully aware that once their generation can no longer polish their own legacies, tarnish is sure to take hold.

[Gary47]

The vets should get over it. We're done celebrating your continued embrace of all things violent. We've moved on to new goals, new achievements, new challenges. Thanks for your sacrifice but it was really a long, long time ago. Time to let go and see what is present in the world now.

[Theron]

Oh please, the Iwo Jima flag picture was so contrived it should have been filmed at MGM Studios!

[TexasDem0]

You're advertising your very obvious ignorance of history.

[TexasDem0]

P,S, Theron, AND your disrespect for those who sacrificed at Iwo Jima to defend your right to advertise your ignorance and obscene disrespect.

[gappedtoothgodwarrior]

It wasn't staged. What you're getting confused by is that it was the second raising. The first flag raising happend shortly after the capture of the island. The second more perminent raising was captured by Rosenthal.

After that he did pose a picture but not the one we're all talking about.

[globality]

The original photo was a fake anyway so what's the deal.

[gappedtoothgodwarrior]

No, it wasn't.

[tmckly]

The climate has been constantly changing since the beginning of time. In 1000ad the worlds temp when up by a degree, and thus Europe started to prosper, longer growing season, population grew. Oh their were no internal combustion engines to blame that 1 degree on. the world is in cooling phase now. NASA reports their is a lot more new ice. THE COLDEST WINTER IN A LONG TIME. Al Gore won't run for office again because he would have debate it. Who cares if Europe accepts the man made global warming theory, they are socialist already. Its the same old liberal ploy, big government telling us how to live and over regulating, over taxing. I believe we need to have a clean planet, but stop the madness.

[desmirl]

Everytime I hear some rightwingnut bashing Europe, I think how glad I am that I converted a lot of dollars to Euros when I saw the handwriting on the wall. These 'socialists' are running circles around us, and if you don't believe it, check this morning's exhange rate. Yeah, those Europeans really are dumb..... Oh, my...

[Binx101]

Not to mention that John McCain must agree. He has been instrumental, from the Senate Appropriations perspective, to use his great influence in getting the European Air Defence {sic} Co. the contract for the USAF next generation super-tanker. Yes indeed - having traveled a great deal of the globe and having lived outside the US for an extended period of time - its always nice to know that good ole' Yankee ingenuity, access to Mom's computer, and a vivid imagination from a prepubescent can set me straight. about those socialist Europeans that have been kicking our collective butts in world capitalism.

[tmckly]

Then move to Europe, good luck getting a job if you even have one. I think your on the government's tit already that's why you defend the lazy Europeans and their 30 hour work weeks

[Gary47]

Oh go read some science publications, one's not funded by the petroleum institute. Get educated. And remember that cherry picking is for really really small minds.

[tmckly]

NASA funded by the petroleum institute? There is no consensus, just propaganda.

[MiddletownHal]

They are respected & honored for their service. May they die off quickly and with little pain and take their hatred, PTSD, their warped nixonian politics as well as contrived and real memories with them.

[TexasDem0]

MiddletownHal, it’s obvious you never served, or you would not be so contemptuous.
You say, “May they die off quickly.”
That’s a rather hateful statement, especially so from someone accusing others of hatred.
You also mention, “their warped nixonian politics.” (It’s Nixonian.)
What qualifies you to speak for any veteran or his political views?

[plages]

Their cover photo should have had the current soldiers rushing an Iraqi oil derrick, carrying an EXXON Mobile flag, with J. McCain being pushed in his wheel chair at the lead!

Semper Fi . . .

[progresemulo]

How many vets? The two who are quoted? This is the right-wing media's trying to use our veterans as shields for their agenda.

[disgustedbyitall]

No disrespect, but it sounds like a few vets have skipped their psych evaluations and gone to GOP reeducation camps instead. If they hope to convince anyone, it's going to require some hard evidence, not a load of self-righteous indignation. That's the real disrespect. Saving the country in WW2 was a monumental feat and we all owe them our gratitude--but not the future of the planet.

[alohaboxer]

It is utterly priceless when a liberal, obviously not a veteran, comments on individuals, who provided them with the right to comment so liberally, in a negative way. Go figure. And like clockwork, when they did not serve, they will start with "no disrepect" or "thanks for your service."

Ever noticed that most liberals never served in the military? Kind of odd. The vast percentage of military are conservative. Which makes no sense since, as the liberals say, "all the poor people go in the military," but yet the conservatives don't care about the poor...hmmm seems to dislocate.

Such entitlement mentality.

Do the Marines and every other branch of service a favor and just keep your liberal mouths shut when it comes the what offends a veteran. Listen to what these Devil Dogs had to say, and show some repect, whether you agree with it or not. The Iwo Jima Memoral is a sacred place (for many), and the image stands for all the men who went before us, all the way back to 1775. So either deal with it respectfully, without the name calling, or enlist.

[desmirl]

Any time you want to post your DD-214, we're ready. And if you knew anything at all about the military, you'd know that during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, the majority of those wearing uniforms were Democrats. Only since the end of the draft has the military slid toward the dark side - mainly because they know that Republicans are servants of the military/industrial complex and thereby responsible for military paychecks.

[TexasDem0]

alohaboxer : “Ever noticed that most liberals never served in the military? Kind of odd. The vast percentage of military are conservative.”
I’m a liberal, served in the USMC in Vietnam, and most of my Marine Corps contemporaries are liberals.
On what do you base your statement?
How long did you serve in the military?

[99hockeyman]

What is great that liberals, conservatives, or anybody can post here. Where do you have the right to tell someone to shut up. Just because you are supposedly a veteran, it does not give you free reign to tell others to close their mouth. You are no better than anyone else.

[dlbdpb]

If you cannot see all the evidence that has been presented that shows that global
warming is real, then the war you were in must have done something to the logic
part of your brain. Go back to sleep.

[Rockwell]

I guess if I was a 90 year old gassbag then I could afford to scoff at global warming. Their dismissal of climate change and their calling down of God's judgement on the Time editors is just igorant and childish.

[TN]

It's the old farts. Vote Republican, what do you care, your not going to be around for the fall. You should care about your grandchildren though.

[Binx101]

There's something to be said for your point. It is very difficult to reason with our elders. My mother is 90 and very active, she's wonderful, but some of her reasoning and values are mysterious to me.

There is though something that we Americans have lost and need to remedy. We have a dramatic disrespect of our seniors, Nationwide. You won't see it as much in strong ethnic areas, but where the population is predominately 3rd generation Americans - irrespective of race - it's plainly evident. Possibly because of fixed incomes and fixed political alliances. Who knows - but - we probably ought to care. We're likely to be a longer living generation and we need to keep ourselves a little more socially limber, lest we'll get the same treatment.

I liked the way we grew up. We snickered behind their backs often, but elders got a bit of respect for time-in-grade.

Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
www.binx101.wordpress.com

[alohaboxer]

Sure, since when they left to fight for 5 years in their youth, they had no thought whatsoever of doing for their wives, children and grandchildren. Show respect, they have earned it and I am quite certain you have not.

[alguien]

that doesn't dispell the fact that they said some EXTREMELY stupid statements (a mortal sin? please!) and because they said it for everyone to read, we have every right to hold them up to scrutiny-regardless of whether or not they served in in WW2.

[kid5rivers]

The planting of the American flag on Iwo Jima symbolizes an era long gone. Besides, the continued veneration of that act is tantamount to insisting that America owns Japan, when it does not.

[Ramirez]

If the photo symbolizes an era long gone, then why does TIME need the image for the GW crusade? TIME should use a modern image, and not the one which symbolizes the Marine Corps.

[alohaboxer]

Most Marines don't think it was an era long gone.

[ABailey]

I think that the Times picture is wonderful. I think that these veterans are wonderful too, but they are disillusioned of the reality of global warming. I absolutely love the candor of their statements. I was laughing the entire time I was reading.

[lumpyspun]

This clearly illustrates the problem with getting people to act on global warming. Most people aren't intelligent to grasp the fact that something can be devastating even though it isn't as impactful as 9/11 or WW2.

If it isn't blown up, knocked over by a hurricane, or smashed in a tornado then it can't be a real problem.

Speaking as a vet of another war, these guys opinions on global warming are completely inconsequential.

[Binx101]

Indeed. Nicely put.
The problem is compounded by one other force that (we) inadvertently participate but haven't figured a way to neutralize. There is an industry that benefits from controversy, including right here at the HuffPo. This isn't a not-for-profit organization. This is an industry.

It doesn't matter what the controversy is - as long as individuals are willing to swing at each other - there's a stage (in one way or another) that will drive revenue to watch the fight.

Take an issue like Global Warming and Bingo - this is the big Kahuna - not to mention that most of us don't have the science or information and are quoting our team's facts - but our hot air adds to the carbon emissions too.

Don't get me wrong - I think the dialog is very good - its just that there are media industries that boom because they embolden (pardon the expression) the controversy, irrespective of the underlying subject. I trust that Time didn't mean to be offensive - but - they certainly meant to be controversial. I'm not suggesting that they don't have a right to make profits and reap the benefits of their investments - but - quite often the controversy is a big video game between media and their sponsors and we're the characters and the consumers.

We'll be doing a story about it next month including the corporate incest of media outlets that we presume are opposing forces.

Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
www.binx101.wordpress.com

[primordialsoup]

It seems as if the Iwo Jima vets are more upset because they don't believe that global warming is real than they're upset at any personal disrespect. Like so many of our trolls, they haven't actually done research on the subject of global warming, nor do they understand science. I have the deepest respect for those who serve in the military, but I can't respect those who chose ignorance over knowledge.

[rwe]

What freakin credible knowledge... An Al Goreacle fiction???? When Al sits with any who disagree and can speak coherently , then maybe... The founder of the Weather Channel, the director of the Hurricane center , the thousands of Scientists who dare to put forth legit oppositition cannot be dismissed

[primordialsoup]

How many times do you have to be told that it's not Al Gore? It's a vast majority of scientists. Show me just one peer-reviewed scientific journal article that denies that man is a cause of global warming, and I might listen to you.