TV Shows and War

I had to think a lot about this because I didn't know really what show to do. All the shows that I watch really had no connection with the War. But then Extreme Makeover: Home Edition clicked in my head. Extreme Maker: Home Edition is show on ABC on Sunday's usually at 8. And on each show they pick a new family that has a old run down house and a very tough story. Some families lost a loved one suddenly, some families have worked so hard for other people that they have forgotten themselves, and many more. I only watched the show every once and a while, but this family stuck out in my memory.

The Westbrook family has three children (Elizabeth, Katie, and James) and two parents (Gene and Peggy). Gene decided he was going to give back to his country by joining Operation Iraqi Freedom. After joining, Gene became paralyzed and soon received a Purple Heart. After his discharge from the military, he started talking about his experiences and helping others. But financially, it was becoming very hard for the Westbrook family because they needed to buy more things to help Gene get from place to place. An example of that, a handicap-accessible van, actually caused the second tragedy for the Westbrook family. On June 10, 2006, a year after Gene was paralyzed in Iraq, the wheel of their new van that they had just bought had become loose causing the van to go right into oncoming traffic. The family does not remember much from that day, but they now have bigger problems on their hands. Son James was paralyzed from the waist down, daughter Katie required surgery to remove one of her kidneys, and Gene broke his ankle and knee and suffers from short term memory loss. With all the money in medical bills and having to get two paralyzed people around the house, the Westbrook was having a very hard time. But with the help of the design crew and hundreds of volunteers, they have the Westbrook family a whole new house, a nice vacation, and a couple extra things to make their lives a little bit easier.

I know thats only one episode of this long run show, but I feel that most shows have steered away from War because many people are trying to forget about it. Don't get me wrong, because I think that was one of the best episodes that I have ever seen. And I think that family deserves everything because of what they have gone through. But that is the exact reason why they don't show war on the TV. That story makes you upset, makes you scared, and makes you not want to be over in Iraq. Television is a way of entertainment and making people forget about their normal lives and forgetting about the news. I think Gene Westbrook is a hero, and I also think his family are heroes.