Many years ago, when the war with Iraq was beginning, and the media was covering it 24/7, an unexpected and emotional moment happened on NBC. This moment shifted the focus of the war from "shock and awe" headlines to the heartbreaking reality of the situation.
On the first day of the air strikes on Baghdad, Tom Brokaw, the then-anchor of NBC News, moderated a discussion in the studio with three military commanders. They analyzed the first few hours of the battle and discussed possible...
Many years ago, when the war with Iraq was beginning, and the media was covering it 24/7, an unexpected and emotional moment happened on NBC. This moment shifted the focus of the war from "shock and awe" headlines to the heartbreaking reality of the situation.
On the first day of the air strikes on Baghdad, Tom Brokaw, the then-anchor of NBC News, moderated a discussion in the studio with three military commanders. They analyzed the first few hours of the battle and discussed possible strategies for the next phase of the attack.
During the broadcast, news broke of the first casualties of the war - a Marine helicopter carrying four Americans and eight British marines crashed during a sandstorm near the Iraqi oil fields. The aircraft was flown by Marine Captain Jay Aubin from Winslow, Maine.
NBC producers contacted Captain Aubin's mother, Nancy Chamberlain, who agreed to speak with Brokaw on air. She spoke eloquently and lovingly about her son's dedication to the Marine Corps and his passion for flying. At the end of the interview, Brokaw expressed his condolences to Mrs. Chamberlain. She then asked, "May I make a point?" Brokaw invited her to continue.
She said, “I truly admire what all of the network news and all of the new technologies are doing today to bring [the war] into our homes. But for the mothers and the fathers and the wives who are watching, it is murder. It is heartbreak. We can’t leave the television. Every tank, every helicopter [we see] – [we ask:] is that our son?” She said, “Technology is great, but there are moms and dads and wives and children out there who are suffering because of this. This,” she said, “is why I agreed to do this interview.”
Mrs. Chamberlain's words totally changed the mood of the show. Tom Brokaw, who was visibly moved, and three analysts decided to put aside their maps and charts. Instead, they spoke about their own experiences in combat, including the painful memory of watching their friends die. The retired commanders then went on to talk about their own sons and daughters who were serving in the military. They were no longer speaking as generals discussing war theories but as loving and proud parents who were anxious about their children's safety.
If only for a brief moment, Mrs. Chamberlain's loving memory of her son and advocacy for the families of the servicemen and women transformed the war from a video game into the human tragedy that real war is.
On the Mount of the Ascension, Jesus calls us to proclaim His Gospel, to be His “witnesses.” We bear such witness whenever we act in a spirit of selfless giving and with a conviction of what is right and just.
Mrs. Chamberlain gave just such witness to the compassion of God in grace-filled words.
As followers of Christ, we are called to demonstrate the compassion and mercy of God that is present in the Gospel of the Risen Christ. We should strive to bring hope and peace to others and the communities we belong to, including our families, churches, and schools. With courage, we can share our generosity, empathy, and ethics to bear witness to the love of God that we have experienced through Christ's Resurrection.
May God grant us the strength to live out these values and be a source of light and love in our world.
