Mojlnir Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 I think that caskets returning to Dover Air Force Base should be shown, though in a very cerimonial and respective manner. We can respect the dead and still show the reality of how many American soldiers have been killed in this war. It worked during the Vietnam conflict and I think that it would jump start healthy democratic debate concerning the war. That said, I think that once the caskets leave Dover, there should be extremely strict prohibitions to prevent the media from taping funerals, KIA notifications and generally harassing grieving families who have just had to bury a loved one. What do you all think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malchik Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Well judging by what they did re Princess Diana this week I should think you'll have to pass a law! Statistics are acceptable but unemotional and so not terribly 'newsworthy'. Grief makes the front page. My view, they should show the funerals because we are inured to numbers and that is a sad indictment on us all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Well, this is nothing new. The pentagon restricted the viewing of and taking pictures of Americans returning in caskets the last time we were in Iraq. The whole 'we are doing this so as to not shame the families' is quaint and pleasant, but so full of s.hit. The Pentagon has done this so they don't have a repeat of Vietnam. Which also explains the Orwellian measures and restrictions placed on Anti-War protests. It's sad and shocking, but it's nothing new under the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandorssen Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 What better way to support our troops than not recognizing their sacrifice. I’m sure that the dead would realize that the lack of coverage about their untimely departure is a serious morale booster for those of us stateside. “Dead? What dead.” Perhaps more disturbing is that early on in this “war” the government was adamant about not reporting on Iraqi casualties. They presumed (I think correctly, although I do not agree with the methods) that if the world was to hear about 1,000 Iraqi dead for every single US casualty, the rest of the world (and Iraq) would be even more infuriated about this action. Now, it seems, they have changed their mind, and suddenly it seems the more Iraqis that die, the more (apparent) success we enjoy; this is using the flawed assumption that the “rebellious” Iraqis will see these death toll figures and think twice about resisting US occupation and rule. Did you know that the US has tried to bring our form of “benevolent tyranny” to so-called oppressed countries 19 times since WWII? In those 19 attempts, there were 19 failures. This statistic quoted by a Texas Republican (Ron Paul) (not necessarily in dissent of the war per say, but rather as a broader objection to the foreign policies of this administration). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmid Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 My own opinion - show the caskets, but make sure none can be identified as belonging to a particular person, or, at least, not without the direct permission of that person's family. We (the UK and the US) need to realise exactly what this war will cost us. The cost in Iraqi lives, both innocent and guilty, is far higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m_gobes Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 I voted no but I feel I must explain. I don't think they should be shown on national news for local news and local news papers of the personn who was killed I believe this is acceptable. But knowing how many people die does effect people. I don't need to see a picture of someone's casket to know there was one more person. also this is their job for the americans anyway I'm not sure how UK is but people sign up to join the military in the US. I'm not trying to minimise their death but most people (I know people in the military) are ready to go to Iraq. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cactoblasta Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 If they can show the bloodied corpses of Iraqi civilians, soldiers and sons of former dictators then there is no acceptable reason for not showing the corpses of US soldiers. It is morally bankrupt to consider US citizens a more deserving group of people than Iraqis and to treat them with any more dignity is to merely revel in hypocrisy and the kind of self-righteous superiority complex that has caused so many of this world's problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faust870 Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 I find that the media tends to leave out the more realistic things in life... I think that this is something that should be seen... :bye: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akrid Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 If I died I would want everybody to know, otherwise what a pointless existance, my life has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakkara Posted April 25, 2004 Share Posted April 25, 2004 They are also prohibited from COUNTING the dead Iraqis. Guess why... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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