Pentagon Rethinks Photo Ban on Coffins Bearing War Dead - Snowboarding Forum

MunkySpunk · 02-17-2009, 11:41 AM

Pentagon Rethinks Its 18-Year Ban on Photos and Videos of Coffins Bearing War Dead Home - washingtonpost.com

I realize that we have vets here, so before I even start, know that no offense, if taken, is intended.

I personally support the lift of this ban. The ban was idiotic to begin with. In this age of Nintendo wars where the worst images the general public sees are from a jet fighter's FLIR camera while a smart bomb hits a target, it is easy to lose sight of the real cost of war in the sanitary presentation.
Two reason I support the lift:
1) Marginalizing fallen soldiers under the guise of respect is in itself disrespectful. They have served, sacrificed, and should be recognized. If anything they should have HUGE signs on the tops of these coffins with the soldier's name, picture, place and date of birth, place and date of death, and a tally of their living, now bereft, relatives along with a massive 'Thank you' printed on it. Say what you want about the legality or morality of war, they served, they obeyed orders, they did their duty, and they deserve better than a night-time smuggling.
2) The aforementioned Nintendo-izing war. If we're goin to permit our politicians and leaders to send these guys and girls over to fight and die in another country, the monetary cost should be the least of our concerns. The cost should be weighed in number of coffins, and the people should be able to see the cost first hand.

02-17-2009, 01:37 PM

I think it's the families choice here, my thoughts are I dont want my casket on some antiwar poster saying blah blah blah pull our soldiers out blah blah blah !
I understand you wanting to recognize the soldiers who have fallen, but we do not do it for recognition. I think IMHO the ban protects the families of the soldiers from being expoited ( be it in a good way or bad way).

02-18-2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

Durring Viet Nam, Walter Kronkite would read the names of the soldiers killed. I understand the "protecting the families" point, but I also think the American people need to somehow become more personally attached to the cost of war. Right now it is so far removed; we go about our daily lives and never give it much more than a passing thought. I think when it becomes this distant, there becomes an apathy about it and why it drags on like it has. The American people are the fuel for political action and we need to be more engaged.

Totally agree, from my prospective most americans are oblivious to what many soldiers deal with when sent off to war and return, and the cost of the ultimate sacrafice given by many of my fellow soldiers.

02-17-2009, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
MunkySpunk -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berkshires Posts: 3,212	Pentagon Rethinks Photo Ban on Coffins Bearing War Dead Pentagon Rethinks Its 18-Year Ban on Photos and Videos of Coffins Bearing War Dead Home - washingtonpost.com I realize that we have vets here, so before I even start, know that no offense, if taken, is intended. I personally support the lift of this ban. The ban was idiotic to begin with. In this age of Nintendo wars where the worst images the general public sees are from a jet fighter's FLIR camera while a smart bomb hits a target, it is easy to lose sight of the real cost of war in the sanitary presentation. Two reason I support the lift: 1) Marginalizing fallen soldiers under the guise of respect is in itself disrespectful. They have served, sacrificed, and should be recognized. If anything they should have HUGE signs on the tops of these coffins with the soldier's name, picture, place and date of birth, place and date of death, and a tally of their living, now bereft, relatives along with a massive 'Thank you' printed on it. Say what you want about the legality or morality of war, they served, they obeyed orders, they did their duty, and they deserve better than a night-time smuggling. 2) The aforementioned Nintendo-izing war. If we're goin to permit our politicians and leaders to send these guys and girls over to fight and die in another country, the monetary cost should be the least of our concerns. The cost should be weighed in number of coffins, and the people should be able to see the cost first hand.

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02-17-2009, 01:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
hm1sfidc Guest Posts: n/a	I think it's the families choice here, my thoughts are I dont want my casket on some antiwar poster saying blah blah blah pull our soldiers out blah blah blah ! I understand you wanting to recognize the soldiers who have fallen, but we do not do it for recognition. I think IMHO the ban protects the families of the soldiers from being expoited ( be it in a good way or bad way).