Rev. Paul W. McNellis, S.J., Adjunct Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, delved into the issue of character and Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp in an essay that appears in Democracy Project. Beauchamp is the soldier whose article in the New Republic described unlikely cruelties that we were supposed to believe are the inevitable result of war's impact on the soldier. The Reverend's essay is entitled Pvt. Beauchamp: Proud of Being Ashamed?
As Newsweek’s Evan Thomas said of the press coverage of the Duke lacrosse team, “The narrative was right, but the facts were wrong.” Similarly, Mr. Foer has his narrative--“the morally and emotionally distorting effects of war”— but the facts keep getting in the way. TNR now admits that the disturbing behavior Beauchamp claimed he engaged in actually occurred in Kuwait, before he had seen a single day of combat. So now the story is about the “morally and emotionally distorting effects of...” Well, of what, exactly? Of merely being member of the U.S. Army? Is that the new narrative?
This also explains why Beauchamp’s “confession of shame” sounds so contrived. It is contrived. Beauchamp imagined how he would feel if he had done the things he described in the pages of TNR. What he describes is not shame but moral smugness.
The Boston College website carries a list of Reverend McNellis's qualifications and honors which runs for five pages. At the end of the list are his non-academic honors.
NON–ACADEMIC HONORS
Awarded Chevalier du Sisowath by the Government of the Khmer Republic (Cambodia) for humanitarian service to Refugees, 1974.
Bronze Star with "V" (Valor), U.S. Army, Vietnam, 1971.
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze and Silver Star, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, 1971.
MILITARY SERVICE
1st Lt., advisor to 22nd ARVN Division Reconnaissance Co., Republic of Vietnam, 1970–71, trained Vietnamese Reconnaissance and Montagnard Scout Companies.
U.S. Army, Infantry, Special Forces, Ranger, and Airborne training, 1968–71.
Given his experiences it would be safe to say that the Reverend's analysis is not what you would call speculative. We can be confident that he speaks from experience. Apparently the same can't be said for Beauchamp. As for the New Republic, one part of A Statement on Scott Thomas Beauchamp that editors were forced to issue in the face of widespread skepticism, is this little nugget that hasn't gotten a lot of mention.
Scott Thomas Beauchamp is a U.S. Army private serving in Iraq. He came to THE NEW REPUBLIC's attention through Elspeth Reeve, a TNR reporter-researcher, whom he later married.
Maybe it doesn't deserve any mention, but I thought it interesting that there was some nepotism involved in the publication of Beauchamp's literary creation. Did TNR editors get snookered by his "TNR reporter-researcher" wife, and give him a free pass on the facts because of that connection? Had they considered the fact checking a done deal? Reeve has apparently been a good match for Beauchamp, getting him published and all. Wonder how it's working out for Reeve, now.
In any case, the Reverend's essay is well worth reading in full.
Via Blackfive.
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