Pentagon rethinks photo ban on war coffins

[SlowwHand]

As a matter of fact, a fallen service member's casket was returned to a local airport yesterday. The news commentator noted that while showing the return wasn't the norm, the family had requested it. In this case, the family was shown. It was all very personal.
They seemed of the same mind as me and others, "This is our son. He fell serving his country, and we want you to know it".

[Patroklos]

I'm a tad miffed at your characterization of my opinion as being somehow politically motivated. In fact, it's not "motivated" at all. It's just my opinion.

That was an impersonal "your," I did not mean you specifically. I could have stated that better.

[-Jrabbit]

Cool. All right then...consider me unmiffed.

[MrFun]

That was an impersonal "your," I did not mean you specifically. I could have stated that better.

Okay, you can come out from being forced to sit in the corner now.

[Blaupanzer]

I sincerely doubt that the "no pictures of coffins" policy relates to concerns about our honored war dead at all. The policy was instituted because the coffin pictures were stirring up opposition to the war and could be used in negative ways per Government spokesmen. The arguments about preventing invasions of privacy whether the family wants that or not arose later as many justifications after the fact in the Bush years. This is a Bush policy, it was not in effect prior to this administration. I feel we are better off to see and remember. OTH, I have never been a big fan of showing photos of people in raw death, precoffins and such.

I never really formed an image as to wht "miffed" actually looks like. But when -Jrabbit said he was unmiffed, an image of him unrolling from being in a tiny rabbit fur ball to a standup jack came unbidden to my mind.

[MrFun]

You're probably right, Blaup. While Pattycakes goes on and on about his claim of just one side of the issue being merely politically-motivated in seeking greater permission for such pictures he seems to forget that the other side could be politically motivated as well - to eliminate a source of material with which to engage in the debate on war and its terrible costs.

Pattycakes might want us to believe that only the anti-war protestors are politically motivated on this issue with the pictures while the other side is virtuous, and pure in their reason for prohibiting such pictures.

[Verto]

I sincerely doubt that the "no pictures of coffins" policy relates to concerns about our honored war dead at all. The policy was instituted because the coffin pictures were stirring up opposition to the war and could be used in negative ways per Government spokesmen. The arguments about preventing invasions of privacy whether the family wants that or not arose later as many justifications after the fact in the Bush years. This is a Bush policy, it was not in effect prior to this administration. I feel we are better off to see and remember. OTH, I have never been a big fan of showing photos of people in raw death, precoffins and such.

The article states the policy was put in place in 1991.

[chequita guevara]

The purpose of the policy was political, to keep Americans from seeing in a real way, the cost of war. It is a policy designed to minimize war dissent, and therefore, it should go. The people need to see the cost of their wars. As long as the dead are invisible, people don't have a reason to confront their government.

[Kidlicious]

I don't give a damn about what anyone not in the military/a veteran/a family member thinks. As far as I am concerned this is basically a portion of the funeral, and thus a private matter unless expressly authorized by the serivce member prior or his family afterward (but not contrary to the stated wishes of the deceased).

But this is suppose to be a democracy?

Also, not showing the coffins is just too in your face 1984.

[DinoDoc]

MSNBC will be happy if they repeal the ban. They'll get an hour long Olberman out of it.

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't see this as a privacy issue; no funerals are being invaded. The victims are not identified; the grieving families are not on camera. I see the opposite -- an opportunity for the public to pay its respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for your country. Done properly, it could be positive and inspirational.

Key words, done properly.

I've been through this, and given the current climate in the media, what makes you think they would respect the dead? If I were the parent of a son or daughter who died in the war in Iraq, I'd hold a public funeral, and announce the time and put up an obituary. That would be the extent of the service.

If you were media, I'd tell you to get the hell out, and throw you out myself.

[chequita guevara]

Fortunately, you have no say in the matter, foreign devil.

[MrFun]

Key words, done properly.

I've been through this, and given the current climate in the media, what makes you think they would respect the dead? If I were the parent of a son or daughter who died in the war in Iraq, I'd hold a public funeral, and announce the time and put up an obituary. That would be the extent of the service.

If you were media, I'd tell you to get the hell out, and throw you out myself.

Awhile back, didn't you try excusing the behavior of homophobes picketing the funeral of dead veterans who happened to have been gay?

Because if my memory serves me right here, then you certainly are in no place to talk about respecting veterans who have died serving their country.

[Patroklos]

The purpose of the policy was political, to keep Americans from seeing in a real way, the cost of war. It is a policy designed to minimize war dissent, and therefore, it should go.

Was there a particular upswing in war wearriness in 1991?

But this is suppose to be a democracy?

And this is relevant to you getting ogle the remains of individual citizens how?

[chequita guevara]

Was there a particular upswing in war wearriness in 1991?

There was a major antiwar movement prior to the attack. The policy was put in place before the war, not that it was necessary because so few American soldiers died. Even the Pentagon was surprised by how successful they were.