disrespect not the fallen

There's been much debate lately regarding showing the American public any images depicting the loss of American soldiers lives on television (via pictures of the fallen soldiers coffins and more recently, Nightline reading all the names and showing pictures of the fallen). To me just having this debate at all is just crazy. I cannot understand this outcry and opposition to them, as these vehicles are one of the few that accurately depict and publicize the other side of the war that we do not get to see: the harsh reality of the massive loss of life that war brings. And to me, not seeing reality of AnYtHiNg for what its really is, only sets you up for a nasty wake up call later. This debate, coupled with FCC's strict regulations of everything on television really makes me feel like we are living in the 1950's all over again. I mean, what's next? Me being blacklisted for even writing this post? It's crazy.

My question is: Why are pictures and television memorials of the fallen soldiers being yanked off the air? These soldiers gave the ultimate price of their lives for our country. Is it so much to ask that they be nationally honored and their faces and names be known to us all in some shape or another? Without such memorials to these soldiers, are they not just another number that we hear or read on the news on a daily basis? I know for me it becomes mind numbing, like "oh...another soldier died this morning. That sucks." And it is horrible reaction, I know, to the loss of life. That's why I think it's totally necessary that we get to actually see the faces behind the numbers and know who these people were. It's a great honor and tribute to their lives (in my opinion that's the least we can do for them). Also, I TRULY give a hand of applause to the photographer who photgraphed those pictures of the lines of soldiers coffins (even though he got fired for publishing them) and Nightlines television show called "The Fallen" which airs tonight for putting names and faces to the numbers of soldiers that passed. I truly thank them for humanizing the war and showing me the other side of the coin, that side which we as americans often do not see.

Whether you're against or for the war in Iraq, we should all be thankful and say a prayer for the people we lost in Iraq, because they died for us. I don't know about you, but I will be watching "the fallen" tonight.