Ban On Photgraphing Returning War Dead Lifted
by Big Dog on Feb 26, 2009 at 18:41 Political
Since the early 90s there has been a ban in place to prevent news organizations from photographing the Flag draped caskets of our war dead. While critics claim that the ban was designed to hide the cost of war in human lives the ban was actually designed to allow families time to receive their loved ones and to grieve privately. Admittedly, not every hero’s family goes to Dover (the Air Force Base where remains are received) but the time is a solemn one and should be devoid of photographers who are trying to exploit the pain of others. Today, that ban was lifted.
The new rule allows photographing but only if the families agree. I don’t imagine there will be too many who say yes but some might. I was perfectly happy with the rule that was in place because the war dead should be brought home in peace and with honor and dignity. A hoard of photographers removes the dignity and disturbs the peace. To those who say that the ban hides the war dead I say that is untrue. The MSM routinely reported the number of dead when George Bush was in office. There were nightly body counts on every major network. I know that the graduates of public school need pictures to understand but I think that the numbers being reported gave a good enough report as to the number of dead.
I don’t really see this as an issue. The Commander can restrict access to his Air Base so all he has to do is deny the reporters and photographers entry. They might sit outside the base with telephoto lenses but the last time I was at Dover Air Base (a few months ago) I think I saw signs that said photographing the base was forbidden. The Commander can also say where photos may be taken so he can put the whole area off limits to cameras. Any photographer who is outside snapping shots could then be detained and the photos confiscated.
That would solve the problem. Of course the Obama Administration and Congress can change the rules or take authority away from the Commander but then they would be inviting a mess. They would also be inviting people who would love to target a military base to take surveillance pictures.
If there is all this openness then we should try an experiment. Ted Kennedy’s days are numbered. He has terminal cancer and he will not be with us much longer. When he dies there will be a big ceremony and his body will lie in state. I say we should get a bunch of photographers to go to the place where he dies and start snapping pictures of him and everyone around him. Then they can follow his body to the funeral home and snap photos there as he enters and as he is prepared. Then a large crowd of photographers can invade the Capitol and start snapping pictures of him lying in state.
Then maybe the next time there is a disaster we can have photographers show up and take pictures of all the dead. The bodies would have to be all lined up and together just like the heroes are when they arrive on the plane. Photographers could then go around and snap photos, but only if the families say it is OK.
Let us see how long that would be allowed.
Maybe we can get Congress and Obama to pile up a trillion dollars and let people take pictures of it so the public can get an idea of how much money is being wasted.
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Tags: Congress, exploitation, heroes, Obama, pentagon, war dead