Ban on Coffin Viewing

Read this article by Leonard Pitts.  Do you think the ban on media coverage of flag draped Iraq War coffins should be lifted or continued? State your reasons.

Comments

[Reilly Sowka]

I believe the ban on media coverage of flag draped war coffins should continue to be banned. It is a disturbing and unnecessary visual that takes away from the mourning family's privacy, and at the same time lowers soldier morale. This "somber ceremony," as Pitts quotes, should not be photographed and publicized for the world to see.

Sure, its the truth about war and shouldn't be kept 'secret', but there are countless other records that document these horrific times: photographs on the battlefield, memoirs, live videos, etc. With all this media coverage going on, shouldn't the photographers take a break from their incessant flashing cameras to respect the deceased? I think so.

[Hewit Hawn]

I agree with Reilly. In a time of war even though death is unavoidable it doesn't have to be shown. It is out of respect for the fallen soldiers and their families. Like Reilly said, there is so much media coverage all the time about death tolls and the horrific effects of war, why is showing coffins necessary? We all know what happens, watching it only lowers morale.

[Alyssa Pariselli]

I agree with Hewit and Reilly. With media coverage being based on death we forget the soldiers that are still fighting. Viewing a loved one on a coffin is hard enough in person but viewing on television makes the situation worse.

[Brad Rhodes]

I'll disagree with all of them, I think that negative publicity should be given towards the war. Yes the soldiers need morale, but they watched those men die...its not like they're oblivious to the death involved. I agree we should respect out soldiers, but earth shattering imagery is needed during war. Hearing a number isn't enough, we need visuals to understand certain points. We are a very visually based culture, thats why we tend to watch the news instead of hearing or reading it. On top of that these are cover coffins, not dead bodies on display. In addition if your son is on television in a coffin, wouldn't the esteemed procession not be a subtle reminder of the good he did for his country?