[12dargernswearf]

I don't give a damn about what anyone not in the military/a veteran/a family member thinks. As far as I am concerned this is basically a portion of the funeral, and thus a private matter unless expressly authorized by the serivce member prior or his family afterward (but not contrary to the stated wishes of the deceased).

[Corryikilelet]

No, AAHZ. If you want a ****ing banana, go to the children's area.

[fd8IIys2]

I don't have a problem with it. I think it makes it personal. It should be personal. Again, believing a particular war is just or unjust has nothing to do with it. The public, in general, needs to be reminded that there is cost, and I think it adds rememberance to the sacrifice.

[BundEnhamma]

QFT. I never understood why this policy was instituted. It was instituted for the same reasons we don't parade the dead as a matter of course in most circumstances in this country. Respect for the dead. We don't let news cameras bust into the mortuaries/herses/funeral parlors for anyone else, this should be no different.

Your desire to make political points does not trump my righ to privacy and respect in death. If you want a visual reminder of the cost of war go visit Arlington. Its free.

[igs00r]

I voted no, but for me the most important thing is to pick a policy and stick to it from war to war and during a war. Otherwise, it's just a PR football rather than an honoring of sacrifice/respect for the dead.

War coffins can be used in certain circumstances for propaganda to encourage a war, after all.

[Veronnisa]

It was instituted for the same reasons we don't parade the dead as a matter of course in most circumstances in this country. Respect for the dead. We don't let news cameras bust into the mortuaries/herses/funeral parlors for anyone else, this should be no different.

Your desire to make political points does not trump my righ to privacy and respect in death. If you want a visual reminder of the cost of war go visit Arlington. Its free.

Note that the explicit ban did NOT respect the wishes of the families... photos were banned even if they wished them.

I don't have a particular opinion, and thus won't vote in the poll, but I think there are two sides to the debate certainly. Reconsidering it, regardless of the ultimate decision, is definitely a good idea...

[risyGreeple]

It was instituted for the same reasons we don't parade the dead as a matter of course in most circumstances in this country. Respect for the dead. We don't let news cameras bust into the mortuaries/herses/funeral parlors for anyone else, this should be no different.

Your desire to make political points does not trump my righ to privacy and respect in death. If you want a visual reminder of the cost of war go visit Arlington. Its free.

I don't see this as a privacy issue; no funerals are being invaded. The victims are not identified; the grieving families are not on camera. I see the opposite -- an opportunity for the public to pay its respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for your country. Done properly, it could be positive and inspirational.

I'm a tad miffed at your characterization of my opinion as being somehow politically motivated. In fact, it's not "motivated" at all. It's just my opinion.

[wiweimeli]

As a matter of fact, a fallen service member's casket was returned to a local airport yesterday. The news commentator noted that while showing the return wasn't the norm, the family had requested it. In this case, the family was shown. It was all very personal.
They seemed of the same mind as me and others, "This is our son. He fell serving his country, and we want you to know it".

[eliniaguilefp7m]

Cool. All right then...consider me unmiffed.

[Tribas4u]

I sincerely doubt that the "no pictures of coffins" policy relates to concerns about our honored war dead at all. The policy was instituted because the coffin pictures were stirring up opposition to the war and could be used in negative ways per Government spokesmen. The arguments about preventing invasions of privacy whether the family wants that or not arose later as many justifications after the fact in the Bush years. This is a Bush policy, it was not in effect prior to this administration. I feel we are better off to see and remember. OTH, I have never been a big fan of showing photos of people in raw death, precoffins and such.

I never really formed an image as to wht "miffed" actually looks like. But when -Jrabbit said he was unmiffed, an image of him unrolling from being in a tiny rabbit fur ball to a standup jack came unbidden to my mind.

[AlekseyZubkov]

I sincerely doubt that the "no pictures of coffins" policy relates to concerns about our honored war dead at all. The policy was instituted because the coffin pictures were stirring up opposition to the war and could be used in negative ways per Government spokesmen. The arguments about preventing invasions of privacy whether the family wants that or not arose later as many justifications after the fact in the Bush years. This is a Bush policy, it was not in effect prior to this administration. I feel we are better off to see and remember. OTH, I have never been a big fan of showing photos of people in raw death, precoffins and such.

The article states the policy was put in place in 1991.

[Evdokia]

I don't give a damn about what anyone not in the military/a veteran/a family member thinks. As far as I am concerned this is basically a portion of the funeral, and thus a private matter unless expressly authorized by the serivce member prior or his family afterward (but not contrary to the stated wishes of the deceased).

But this is suppose to be a democracy?

Also, not showing the coffins is just too in your face 1984.

[YTmWSOA5]

I don't see this as a privacy issue; no funerals are being invaded. The victims are not identified; the grieving families are not on camera. I see the opposite -- an opportunity for the public to pay its respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for your country. Done properly, it could be positive and inspirational. Key words, done properly.

I've been through this, and given the current climate in the media, what makes you think they would respect the dead? If I were the parent of a son or daughter who died in the war in Iraq, I'd hold a public funeral, and announce the time and put up an obituary. That would be the extent of the service.

If you were media, I'd tell you to get the hell out, and throw you out myself.

[DongoSab]

Key words, done properly.

I've been through this, and given the current climate in the media, what makes you think they would respect the dead? If I were the parent of a son or daughter who died in the war in Iraq, I'd hold a public funeral, and announce the time and put up an obituary. That would be the extent of the service.

If you were media, I'd tell you to get the hell out, and throw you out myself.

Awhile back, didn't you try excusing the behavior of homophobes picketing the funeral of dead veterans who happened to have been gay?

Because if my memory serves me right here, then you certainly are in no place to talk about respecting veterans who have died serving their country.

[GrottereewNus]

Was there a particular upswing in war wearriness in 1991?

There was a major antiwar movement prior to the attack. The policy was put in place before the war, not that it was necessary because so few American soldiers died. Even the Pentagon was surprised by how successful they were.

[exschke]

Most of the American public were opposed to the war before it began. Of all the excuses Bush came up with before the war, the only one he could come up with that garnered a mere 50% approval was stopping Hussein from getting the atomic bomb, which wasn't what the war was about in any event. About 150,000 people marched on Washington the weekend after the war started. There were massive demonstrations against the war across the country.

[bZEUWO4F]

They said it was.

[textarchive]

Ah, the good old days of Gulf War I -- back when Congress authorized wars, the US could muster a real coalition, the UN sanctioned it, and the entire war took all of 6 weeks.

[kasandrasikl]

If Georgie senior had gone into Iraq with goal of overtrhowing Sadammie, the war would not have taken only six weeks.

If? If grandma had balls she'd be grandpa.

They said it was.

This is why I have a problem with anything you say, Che. It's always rambling ambiguity.

[gastabegree]

This is why I have a problem with anything you say, Che. It's always rambling ambiguity.

I thought it was because Che is a commie.