The military made the decision today to end the ban on publicizing fatal war photos, and is getting nods from those on both sides of the aisle. “I am relieved that this short-lived attempt to control the media and the public’s right to know has come to an end,” Louise M. Slaughter, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, said (and if your like me you found it ironic that the quote on this issue came from a woman whose last name was “Slaughter”). Mike Pence, from our own great state of Indiana, said “the public needs to see the unvarnished story from Afghanistan, as it has in past wars.”
And I agree with both of them on this point. This decision follows a decision earlier this year to allow photos like you see above to be used in the media. I support both decisions, because it honestly didn’t make any sense to me. Part of the problem, in my opinion, with the low approval rates concerning the Afghan and Iraq wars is that so many people became unattached from what was going on. When there is a paragraph in the newspaper reading 4 or 5 or 10 soldiers died, there should be a picture not only to give the fallen hero the acknowledgment and respect that he/she deserves, but to make all of us remember exactly what our boys are going through over there. There hasn’t been much bi-partisan workings with this administration and Congress, but when there is it is important to recognize bi-partisanship for what it is: the two parties working together for a good reason.
Cross posted at www.ktracy.com and linked at www.mattersofopinion.net
