President Obama recently lifted the ban on the media having access to our fallen military personnel as they are being transferred from military to civilian transport. In other words, photographers can now take pictures of deceased soldiers remains (caskets) as they are taken from the plane and put on a hearse. The catch, as I understand it is, as long as the family agrees. This lifts a ban that former President Bush put in place.
I have mixed feelings about this. In a previous entry I wrote that our soldiers deserve more coverage. The media has an obligation to report the danger our men and women are still facing in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have an obligation to demand it. I still believe that to be true. Our troops deserve objective coverage, lest we forget that we're still there and lives are still being lost.
On the other hand, bringing home a loved one who has fallen is an enormously personal matter. I do think it's beneficial as a whole for us (the civilian public) to see that there are, in fact, still dying soldiers being brought back home. But as a parent, the last thing I would want is for some camera person to have a lense stuck in my face as I grieve the return of my dead son or daughter. But that's just me. I continue to be amazed every time I see someone on television grant an interview to some reporter as it relates to their dead relative. Be warned. If one of my family passes and you show up at my door for an interview, I'll consider you a trespasser. You'll be issued one warning and then you'll be shot.
In a nutshell. I think lifting the ban is good as long as the final decision is left to the family. Some will want the coverage as part of the grieving process and some will want privacy. Some will want us to see the sacrifice their son or daughter or father or mother made. Some won't. For those that DON'T want the coverage, I believe the military escort should have shoot-on-site orders for any reporter or photographer that violates the families request. For the families that DO want the coverage, I still think reporters that violate the honor and sanctity of the fallen, should also be put down at the discretion of the military escort.
We want to remember. But more than anything we want to honor and respect those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I don't think that's too much to ask considering all they've done.
No comments:
Post a Comment