To see, or not to see?
Was AP right or wrong to publish the picture of the dying Marine, Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard?
Should the family objections overrule, or is freedom of speech foremost?
What now? Does AP deserve a slap on the wrist, a lawsuit or is this indeed simply another cost of being at war?
Your turn............................
12 comments:
I have no idea what you're referring to.
that said.
if a soldier is dying or dead and their family does not wish their photo plastered across the media then the media should learn some RESPECT and keep it off.
The AP is disgusting. Thanks for the kind words.
I was not sure how I felt, until I saw the photo. As a mother, I was upset.
I googled it to see the photo and I can't imagine the horror that his family felt to see their child's last moments, only to find out its been shared with millions of people.
The AP was disrespectful and should be punished for their actions.
Absolutely wrong. Did I send you an invite for my blog? If not, email me your email - bexavery@gmail.com.
It was terribly wrong to, not only give a dying soldier his dignity through the pain, but to ignore the families wishes, too, is unconscionable. There was no ‘need for the public to know…’ bullshit. It was for the $ and a prize and nothing more. She, the photographer, should be banned and any other photographers that tries to take a picture like that should get the butt of a rifle across the camera while they are aiming for the shot.
It was a terrible thing to do.
It is completely wrong.
Wrong as a football bat. Whoever made that particular decision should personally apologize to the family, resign their position and go scrub toilets in a homeless shelter for a few years before applying for another position of responsibility.
And if I were to rule on that application it would be quickly denied.
well the media will do what ever it needs to do to make it's self look good,case in Point the Assination of president kennedy,His Brother Robert,the attempted assination of President Regan,are a few things that come to mind.During the veitNam war we sat things like this as well.It is a fine line that needs to be walked by the media.
What gets me is that they met with the parents, then disregarded their wishes.
There are ways for this subject to be handled tastefully and with compassion. The news media in my hometown has done so, with one photographer in particular working with the families to insure their wishes are followed. My example would be the following photo: http://www.jamopar.com/soldier_7_e.jpg
To me, it powerfully represents loss, agony, and the "history of this war" in a more complete way than the image of LCpl. Bernard does.
Bottom line, the family asked the AP not to publish it. As Sec. Gates said, it is about common decency.
You might want to read the e-mail I sent AP about this and then send one yourself. It's on my last post. Let the sleazy B***ards know how you feel.
AP owes the Bernard family a SINCERE apology and a promise to never do this again! They might want to consider a memorial scholarship in Joshua's name or something similar.
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