To the editor,
The Chronicle-Herald online hosts a blog site for: “average Nova Scotians with an extraordinary interest in their communities—community blogs that delve into the grassroots issues that are at the lifeblood of every small community.” I was part of that blog community until recently.
However, a few weeks ago, a Lt(N) Desmond James, Public Affairs Officer with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, started blogging on this site under the title “Direct from Afghanistan.” Lt(N) James is not from Nova Scotia or the east coast.
With the voice of a regular “aw-shucks-ma’am” kind of guy, he paints rosy pictures of life in Kandahar. He’s extraordinarily prolific. His blog is full of glossy photos of lovely scenery, wide-eyed children and fun activities in which our troops are engaging. Readers, especially those with loved ones over there, are eating this up with a spoon.
List 10 things wrong with this picture.
By Chris Conrad
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2007.