Why not show the bodies?

[septbride2002]

So we didn't totally hyjack the Oprah thread - there has been some discussion about showing the bodies of those killed by Katrina on TV. I personally am all for it. I think it brings reality to the situation. I personally cannot conceive 40,000 people dead. Seeing someone's life lost brings it all home to me.

Plus I also believe in freedom of the press. I do not believe the press wants to show the dead bodies to be sensational - but to tell the whole story. It bothers me that any administration would want to censor that.

I was also okay in showing the bodies of Sadam's son.

~Amanda

 

[DawnCt1]

Yup, that's what we need, more "reality" added to the situation. Perhaps we could call the show "Survivor meets the Grim Reaper", or "Who am I"? How repulsive that now we have to show the results of trauma and drowning on television and in print before we get "the reality". I for one wouldn't want to see my brother, mother, uncle, aunt, neighbor, etc splashed acrossed the television so so those without a sense of decency or imagination, needs an image to understand that a natural disaster is a human tragedy! How about preserving some sense of dignity and privacy. I thought the left was big on "privacy".

 

[N.Bailey]

If that were your mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter, would you want their picture plastered on the nightly news for the entire world to see? I think it boils down to nothing more than respect.

 

[septbride2002]

Hi Dawn - see I am actually trying to have a grown up discussion. If you want to state your opinion then do so - but I have little to no tolerance for smart mouths today.

Have a nice day!
~Amanda

 

[N.Bailey]

I'd also like to know where you got the 40,000 figure? I've yet to hear anyone claiming fatalities at that huge a number. I do think the figure is going to be plenty high, don't get me wrong, but I surely hope it's not that high.

 

[DawnCt1]

Hi Dawn - see I am actually trying to have a grown up discussion. If you want to state your opinion then do so - but I have little to no tolerance for smart mouths today.

Have a nice day!
~Amanda

A "grown up discussion"? I would think that the answer to the question would have been blatantly obvious that it wouldn't need to be asked.

 

[catherine]

Do the US media not show the bodies when they are reporting from NO? They are shown on the news reports here in the UK. However most of the bodies that have been shown are covered or face down so it would be difficult to identify them!

 

[septbride2002]

If that were your mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter, would you want their picture plastered on the nightly news for the entire world to see? I think it boils down to nothing more than respect.

Actually yes. My initial reaction would be - LOOK at what we lost. It would be horrible to lose my mother - but whether or not her picture is on TV or not would not bring her back to life.

~Amanda

 

[AuntieM03]

So we didn't totally hyjack the Oprah thread - there has been some discussion about showing the bodies of those killed by Katrina on TV. I personally am all for it. I think it brings reality to the situation. I personally cannot conceive 40,000 people dead. Seeing someone's life lost brings it all home to me.

Plus I also believe in freedom of the press. I do not believe the press wants to show the dead bodies to be sensational - but to tell the whole story. It bothers me that any administration would want to censor that.

I was also okay in showing the bodies of Sadam's son.

~Amanda

I guess some need to see the bodies to bring it all home. Some, like me, do not.

 

[septbride2002]

A "grown up discussion"? I would think that the answer to the question would have been blatantly obvious that it wouldn't need to be asked.

That again is your opinion. However there are those with different opinons. If you don't wish to participate in the discussion then find some other thread to throw around jabs and insults. I for one am tired of your sarcasm.

~Amanda

 

[va32h]

I replied to this in the Oprah thread. But I'll throw in my lot here as well.

The relatives of the people who have been killed may not appreciate -or even care about- your personal need to fully conceive the death of their loved one, and have that "brought home" for you.

Unfortunately, many of the dead are unidentifiable, so there is no relative to stand up and say "please don't photograph my mother's corpse as it decomposes along the highway overpass."

So why not err on the side of discretion - assume that people do not want the dead bodies displayed in the media unless otherwise informed.

I don't think it's for us (collectively) to decide. My "need" to understand what happened shouldn't prevail over someone else's right to dignity and privacy.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Do the US media not show the bodies when they are reporting from NO? They are shown on the news reports here in the UK. However most of the bodies that have been shown are covered or face down so it would be difficult to identify them!

They've shown them on CNN and more then once the people were lying face up, it was so sad. I hoped that someone who knew them didn't see it because I can't imagine seeing my loved ones body lying in the streets for over a week rotting away. So sad.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I don't think it is respectful to the families. I would be appalled if it were my friend or family shown.

I don't need to see something to believe it. I will never totally comprehend it, whether I see "proof" either. Therefore, there is not purpose except for shock value and ratings.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I personally would not want to see the bodies. I've seen a couple of bodies that were left in water for a day or two and it is not a pretty sight. Add to that being in that nasty, poisonous New Orleans water for all this time with God knows what "living" in it and it would make for quite a nightmarish scene.

Edited to say: The scene is already nightmarish enough without having to add rotting corpses to the mix.

 

[Jaybrad]

The media exploits the public enough!! Leave those that have passed away alone!!

 

[septbride2002]

I guess some need to see the bodies to bring it all home. Some, like me, do not.

And I get that - which is why you have the choice of turning off your TV, not buying a magazine, or newspaper. You have that choice to not watch those things. No one is going to make you. Did you support seeing Sadam's son's dead bodies?

~Amanda

 

[HappyMommy2]

I posted on the other thread before seeing this one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by septbride2002
At least, in my opinion, their body is a testament to what mother nature can do - and that we all need to remember life is short. Their picture will show the truth in what was lost - not just material things, but lives. Their life was lost and that is truly precious.

~Amanda



I can see where you are coming from; however, to me the best testament to the preciousness of what was lost is not a picture of the dead body, but a picture (or description by a living loved one) of the person while they were living. After a plane crash, or other disaster, you will often see an episode of 20/20 or segments on the regular news that will give brief profiles of the lost--pictures from happier times, interviews with loved ones, etc. THAT is what brings home the loss to me. It makes the lost person "real" to me even though I didn't know him/her, and usually brings me to tears as I realize that the person was a living, breathing, LOVED individual who is gone forever.
I don't believe pictures of dead bodies offer that.

 

[DawnCt1]

That again is your opinion. However there are those with different opinons. If you don't wish to participate in the discussion then find some other thread to throw around jabs and insults. I for one am tired of your sarcasm.

~Amanda

I consider my responses no more inappropriate than your question. If I didn't want to participate in this discussion, I would have avoided it.

 

[beattyfamily]

You already know my opinion.

No, I don't want to or need to see dead bodies to make it real. I think it's disrespectful to the dead and their families.

I don't want to see any dead bodies, not even Saddam's sons.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I replied to this in the Oprah thread. But I'll throw in my lot here as well.

The relatives of the people who have been killed may not appreciate -or even care about- your personal need to fully conceive the death of their loved one, and have that "brought home" for you.

Unfortunately, many of the dead are unidentifiable, so there is no relative to stand up and say "please don't photograph my mother's corpse as it decomposes along the highway overpass."

So why not err on the side of discretion - assume that people do not want the dead bodies displayed in the media unless otherwise informed.

I don't think it's for us (collectively) to decide. My "need" to understand what happened shouldn't prevail over someone else's right to dignity and privacy.

You said what I was thinking perfectly! Showing dead bodies is lurid, disgusting and disrespectful both to the deceased and to their families. The answer to the question (why not show the bodies) should be overwhelmingly obvious. Thankfully, for the most part, the media has shown some level of restraint.

I also agree with DawnCT1 -- this would be the type of thing I'd expect out of a gross out show like "Fear Factor."