Discussions
Is the reversal of the media ban what's needed?
Posted by iyaayasmoderator • 5/19/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: families, media ban, Soldiers
On Wednesday, April 8, 2009, for the first time in nearly 20 years, the media was permitted to witness a U.S. Flag draped casket containing the body of a dead soldier arrive on U.S. soil.
1.)What do you think?
2.)Why are families put thru the media mess?
3.)Shouldn't the return of a deceased soldier be about the soldier and the grieving family, not making it a news story?
4.) All returning soldiers are heros, why only make news of the deseased soldiers?
User Comments
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1.) It's disgraceful to all soldiers.
2.) $$$$$$$$$$$$$
3.) It's about $$$$$$$$$$$$$
4.) It's the only way to advise people that there is a war going on and in wars people die. Name one (1) war in the history of the planet that not a sinle person diesd. -
I think the family should have a choice in whether or not they are filmed and broadcast. Some people may want it on the TV, others obviously not. But the choice resides with the families, and only the families, and some sort of procedure to get permission should take place, to prevent media frenzies.-
The President has taken away even that option. Personally, I've accompanied two caskets home from Kuwait, both family members. I can't understand why people want to see it when they aren't related or have some ties to the soldier.
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Ask a Patriot Guard rider why they want to ride with the funeral processions. (with or without the WBBC fundies raising hell). Ask the residents of a town why they attend the funerals, or other such memorial events. Ask the people who read the obits and military news sections of the paper why they want to know.
Answer: Support, and patriotism, mostly. (Granted some are morbidly curious, and some are crazy)
I'm sure the families can opt out if they want to. Unless these are general photos, and no details are released or given/shown? -
Are you recomending that those who want to see it are showing their support and/or patriotism?
Why don't the returning soldiers who are alive, or those who have been mamed and wounded? Where is America mouring for them in the news? -
I can't speak for where you live, but live returning soldiers and sailors get HUGE coverage here.
Then again, this is military country, so...
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Photographs of military coffins draped in the stars and stripes were today published in the US for the first time since the start of the war in Iraq following a successful legal challenge to a ban on publishing images of dead soldiers' homecomings.
News organisations have been barred from showing images of the return of the bodies of soldiers killed in action since the start of the war in Iraq.
The US government edict, issued at the start of the war, stated that there would be "no arrival ceremonies of, or media coverage of, deceased military personnel returning to or arriving from" air bases.
The Pentagon issued this ban and it was put in place during the first Gulf war, although the policy was "not consistently followed" during that conflict.
When this policy was violated, citations were issued. None were paid, in turn the promise of funding from the media outlets to different government organizations and charities was pulled.
So now, you get what you have asked for. Does it make you feel better somehow now?-
Is that a response to what I said?
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The short statement right below your comment. Starts with "The President has taken away even that option. "
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Yeah, I figured that out LOL
I was wondering why it was such a weird response... -
@ Anok
You participated in a similar discussion back 2/12/09 called Banned Photos of Fallen Soldiers?
I see your opinion has not changed. I'm not trying to change it. I would just like to know why the President of the United States trumps what may not be right for everyone? -
Overturning a ban allows choice. Like I said, some people may want to participate with the media, others may not. Now they have the choice to do as they see fit.
I think respect, of course, should be key in this process, and if respect of family's wishes are not shown, then spank the media source but good.
Why oppose the choice? -
The new policy is putting the families first. They now have the choice. The Bush administration didn't want the caskets to be shown because they were afraid the public would turn against the war, which happened anyway, but it might have happened sooner if the casualties were more than just numbers on TV.
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Tough call. I think it is important to understand the cost in lives that is paid when we send Johnny or Jane marching off to war. On the other hand, I cringe at the thought of dead soldiers being used to advance an agenda, which is definitely part of what is going on here. Like I said, a tough call, one that should err on the side of respecting the family's wishes at all times.-
I had thought of it as advancing the agenda also, which is hard to say. Maybe it was a pressure play, give one person one thing and get another in return.
My stand point will remain the same on this one. Ban or no ban, permissions or not, the media doesn't need to be there. Why does the media do it? Money? Ratings? Tell me why. -
I was watching the local news last night, and saw some media coverage of this nature, and I thought of this discussion.
The family members expressed thanks and gratitude for the people and attention turned towards honoring their loved one who gave all. His wife stated that "It's important for the community to see what they give, and to support the family and honor their service publicly".
We celebrate the return of our soldiers with meet and greets at the airports, parades, BBQ's, media coverage, spotlight stories on the news, and an entire section of the news paper dedicated to it. It would be rather unfair to outright ignore the soldiers who actually gave their lives for the same thing the living soldiers were being honored for.
Don't you think?
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