CBS showing pictures of dead Marines

[dennis99ss]

No offense, but, re: the talk about caskets--didn't the gov't issue an order saying no more pictures of them coming home?

Further, with all due respect for the families, etc. while the pain may always be with you, it is not always with the American people, because there is no sacrifice being made by the American people, just a sacrifice being made by those in the military. Those of us who are not in the military are making no sacrifice for this war. As a result, maybe the pictures will help end it sooner rather than later. Maybe the pictures will cause this government not to jump into the next war with such giddiness, thoughtlessness and lack of preparation. Finally, the military families should want to see the pictures on the tv. Maybe it will cause the outrage that is due, and cause the troops to come home.

 

[Van Helsing]

As a result, maybe the pictures will help end it sooner rather than later. Maybe the pictures will cause this government not to jump into the next war with such giddiness, thoughtlessness and lack of preparation.

Here here

 

[cats7494]

We thank God every day that he came home safely, this time. I hope I never have to deal with what the families of those marines have to deal with. To have your child die in war and then have their bodies paraded on the news for the entire country to view is horrifying to me.

"Even if the bodies are "anonymous" it's still an awful sight for the families of the 691 who have died to see. My heart breaks for those families. But it swells with pride and gratefulness for those who volunteered for these jobs and were willing to fight when their country asked them.

A little respect for them isn't a lot to ask. "

Amen!! I agree 100% inaminute!

 

[inaminute]

Maybe it will cause the outrage that is due...

Outrage?

Yes, I am outraged that CBS would stoop to the level of those cowardly terrorists in the Middle East by parading photos of dead Amercan soldiers for the country to view. And for no reason other than RATINGS.

 

[pokiemomo181]

Why should we want to see our loved ones bodies on tv? Anyone who has someone fighting over there doesn't want their loved ones body paraded across the news. If you think that showing these bodies is going to end this war, then you are even more misinformed about that, than about us military families wanting to see the pictures. This as with any war will not end till the job is done. I think showing respect to our military dead is only right. Its what they have earned.


Pokie

 

[mamajoan]

As a military mom.. no I would not want to see my sons body displayed on tv... I am not sure about the respect issue. I have strong opinions on the war in Iraq as does my son who does not agree with the US current postion.. however he continues to faithfully serve.

However, I do understand that we live in an age of technology. Never before have we been so closely associated with daily aspect of war and its atrocities. I have been amazed at what networks have shown on tv. One thing that is certain... many people are losing their lives...

 

[dennis99ss]

This as with any war will not end till the job is done?

Huh?

Did you forget about Korea, Vietnam, and to some, WWII?

How about the first Gulf War?

Did all of those end when the job was done?

Didn't the news coverage in Vietnam have an effect on the country? Didn't the people demand that the war be ended? Wasn't that a pivotal point during elections?

 

[Van Helsing]

Did all of those end when the job was done?

NO

Will the job ever be done in Iraq ???

 

[preshi]

I was appalled this morning when they showed those heroic soilders bodies on the screen without so much as a warning. I am throughly disgusted with the media.

 

[pokiemomo181]

I agree the the protesters caused a knee jerk reaction to Vietnam. It caused our soldiers to be spit on, and called baby killers for doing what they were sent over to do. Our soldiers didn't deserve it then nor do they deserve it now. You said that all military families should want to see those pictures, well I gave you This militaries families veiw of it. I would NOT want my son's picture paraded on tv so the anti-war protesters could use it to their benefit. If my son had died over there I feel he deserved to have his death respected and NOT put on the news. It is a private thing for his family to deal with, and not the country to take advantage of. Exploitation of the dead can not be a good thing for our military or their families, and I would hope this country would feel the same way.


Pokie

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy
My viewpoint may make you angry but please understand that's not my intention.

The showing of photographs of those dead young Marines and soldiers are important because their deaths are one of our country's true costs of this war. I am so very sorry for their families and hope that their pain isn't made worse by the images but it's my deeply held belief that we must be constantly reminded of the reality of what's happening in Iraq in order to be truly informed. It was true in Vietnam and its true now. We have to know the price before we can determine if we're willing to pay it. Those photos are proof of the price that is being paid. It's easier not to know or not to look but the cost is still real.

I was fine with the coffin pictures being shown, I even watched the CBS Dan rather memorial tribute but showing those boys dead bodies was way over the top. Where does it stop? What's next live fire fight coverage so we can see our boys be killed live on TV? Disgusting.

 

[palmtreegirl]

As a result, maybe the pictures will help end it sooner rather than later. Maybe the pictures will cause this government not to jump into the next war with such giddiness, thoughtlessness and lack of preparation.

Nope opposite here. Seeing pictures like that just make me angry at the media. They also make me support the war even more because I want the people that killed our boys to be taken care of. I'm normally a very peaceful person but when I see pics like that forget about it, I want revenge. I don't even like the *me* I become after seeing pics like that.

Sure I want the war to end just as much as anyone else but I want it to end the right way, turning back now and running with our tail between our legs is not the right way.

 

[Disney Doll]

Thank God there wasn't TV during WWII. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to show all the pictures of the dead military from that war?

 

[Keli]

I'm noticing that most of those that support the media for showing these pictures seem to have the idea that it will turn Americans against the war and that's why they approve of those pictures being broadcast. I think that's a really stinky way of garnering support for your cause. Those troops have already paid the ultimate cost but you would demean them by broadcasting images of their death to the whole world as if they were of little value. Flame away if you will but that's my ever so humble opinion.

 

[bumcat]

Give the media a foot and they'll take a mile.

How about pictures of dead police officers after a shoot out? or pictures of firemen that die during a fire? or pictures of those that die in car accidents or freak accidents? How about pictures of those after they have drowned?

Ask yourself if you would like to see your relative or spouse or child dead on TV? It's called respect for the family.

It doesn't make it any more right because it's soldiers.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by mamajoan
But if these photos are able to move any one who makes political decisions for our country, if it makes any of these political movers and shakers begin to realize that the US better get the hec out of Iraq... SOON.... then I understand the motivation of CBS and ABC and other networks....

How soon?

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by dennis99ss
As a result, maybe the pictures will help end it sooner rather than later. Maybe the pictures will cause this government not to jump into the next war with such giddiness, thoughtlessness and lack of preparation. Finally, the military families should want to see the pictures on the tv. Maybe it will cause the outrage that is due, and cause the troops to come home.

Could you please back up your assertion that someone in the administration is giddy about this war?

Thoughtlessness? I don't see it. What I do see is a lot of thoughtfull troops helping oppressed people help themselves.

Preparation? Have you ever planned a war? I don't claim to know much but I can only imagine that it's a hard thing to do and that it's a work in progress from start to finish.

Oh, and there's plenty of outrage about this war so there is nothing due in that respect. I think that for the most part people have made up their minds (and would probably not change them) already on how they feel about this war.

See, if I think things are not going well over there, I don't immediately say "OMG, let's get the heck out!!". I say "We need to put more men on the job , get it done right and kick ***".

Oh and if you think it's easy for me to say that as I don't have children nor am I in the military, it wouldn't matter if I did or were, I'd still feel the same.

 

[RNMOM]

Some of us old enough remember the coverage of Viet Nam. It was not unusual to see dead soldiers on both side being carried/dragged. Honestly I can remember seeing this nearly every evening.

I think that might be why some of us have strong feelings against wars that have some dispute about why we are there. I know I do.

What I saw on the evening news was a shot of the backs and bottoms of the marines. No faces or heads. No names or other identifying items. Yes it was hard to see but it is war. We have seen many pictures of dead Iraqis. I know I have seen rows of them partially covered after bombings. I think we need to remember this is war. We are not having to sacrifice for this war as was done in the past and that may be the reason it doesn't seem "real" to many people.

I think we owe it to those young men to see them as they were following the slaughter and stripping of their protective gear. Thank God they did not strip them naked or do further harm to their bodies.

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by Keli
I'm noticing that most of those that support the media for showing these pictures seem to have the idea that it will turn Americans against the war and that's why they approve of those pictures being broadcast. I think that's a really stinky way of garnering support for your cause. Those troops have already paid the ultimate cost but you would demean them by broadcasting images of their death to the whole world as if they were of little value. Flame away if you will but that's my ever so humble opinion.

Who started going the stinky way of garnering support for this war by using obviously wrong information about non-existing WMD or links between Saddam and Osama?
Those pictures shown yesterday at least were R-E-A-L!!

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by RNMOM
Some of us old enough remember the coverage of Viet Nam. It was not unusual to see dead soldiers on both side being carried/dragged. Honestly I can remember seeing this nearly every evening.

I think that might be why some of us have strong feelings against wars that have some dispute about why we are there. I know I do.

What I saw on the evening news was a shot of the backs and bottoms of the marines. No faces or heads. No names or other identifying items. Yes it was hard to see but it is war. We have seen many pictures of dead Iraqis. I know I have seen rows of them partially covered after bombings. I think we need to remember this is war. We are not having to sacrifice for this war as was done in the past and that may be the reason it doesn't seem "real" to many people.

I think we owe it to those young men to see them as they were following the slaughter and stripping of their protective gear. Thank God they did not strip them naked or do further harm to their bodies.

My thoughts exactly! Thanks RNMOM.