Letters to the editor
Dear Editor,
This article raises a few important issues, but unfortunately there is an extremely apparent bias that negates the ideas presented. “The Colonnade thinks that the responsibility of the photojournalist outweighs the possible harm publishing these photos might do to family members.”
Unfortunately for The Colonnade, the rights of individuals is, and will always, be upheld thanks to the Constitution. Following the same logic presented in the quote, we can also say that the responsibility of the USA to police the world outweighs the possible harm of war.
I, as an anti-war liberal, am fully against the USA policing the world. I would hope everyone that cares for the survival of the nation agrees.
Secondly, as a sophomore here at GCSU that is in the process of enlisting in the military, I would feel highly disgraced to know that the press (people that the military fights and dies for) is subjecting my family to more grievance just to make a story. “There is more emotion and impact in a single photograph of the coffins being unloaded from ships and planes than a well-written article and a list of names of the same fallen soldiers. As a generation accustomed to consuming news and culture visually, a single photograph would reach a much broader audience than even the most well- written article would.” ——–in conjunction with—— — “It is also the right of the American people to see the true cost of war. ”
While there may be more emotion in photographs than articles, you are not focusing solely on ‘telling the American people the true cost of war’. Photographs DO reach more but from an advertising perspective. Are you really advocating using photographs so the magazine will sell more? [war profiteering] If photojournalists actually cared about showing the TRUTH, then they would realize that articles portray the truth, whereas photographs are designed to specifically draw emotions from viewers. When you switch to photographs, you are no longer trying to present the truth but PERSUADE the audience.
If you are against the use of ‘happier’ photos, then by all means take up that issue. Fighting fire with fire is never an acceptable logic. It only results in more problems. “Currently, the families of the soldiers still hold the right to decline photographs of their soldiers.” And it should remain this way. No person may have their picture taken if they expect privacy, and a funeral is a place of privacy and respect.
“All media outlets should be allowed to take photos and videos of returning coffins and publish them on any outlet they see fit with or without family consent. Though families may feel that publishing photos of their dead loved ones might be an invasion of their privacy, it is also the right of the American people to know and see the results of war.” I’m curious, do you also support the first amendment right to protest in such a manner? Do you advocate the Westboro Baptist Church’s continuous protests of US Military funerals? If it’s not an invasion of privacy to subject the grieving families to more pain, what’s the problem with letting the entire first amendment step over the line?
Secondly, the true cost of war is with an article; a picture is an attempt to sway the views. “Unfortunately, the truth is that soldiers die overseas everyday, so why should the government be allowed to ban the photographic proof of such? The answer is that they shouldn’t. The job of a photojournalist is to photograph the world’s happenings as accurately and truthfully as possible, and the government should not interfere with this process.” Unfortunately, people die in car accidents everyday. Unfortunately, people die from heart attacks everyday. The truth of the matter is that people die. Everyone dies. What people don’t understand about the military is that it is a volunteer service. Everyone in the US Military today is there because they want to be. The last draft was long ago enough to where they could retire, or decide not to re-enlist. Having said that, it is a sacrifice those volunteers understand might happen when they swear in at a Military Entrance Processing Station. Do not disrespect their choices, their families or them personally because they chose to answer to a higher call that you might disagree with.
William Smith
Sophomore
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 3 2009. Filed under Letters to the Editor.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
