I was going to bitch...

[lithera]

I was going to post something about things sucking but then I saw this.



I can't explain how sad this picture makes me.

The accompanying article is here. It's a very good read.

Comments

[bayushiboy.livejournal.com]

no need to explain. needless deaths are always tragic.

[prince-inari.livejournal.com]

At least they're getting some respect in death.

There's something both ultimately beautiful and ultimately mournful about a picture like this. It's rather like visiting Arlington, if you've ever been there.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

... Yeah.

[branwynelf.livejournal.com]

How very sad. More so when you think of all the innocents (non-combatants) dying too and getting no such honours.

I think tonight I'll light a candle to honour them all.

*sigh*

[cleverusername2.livejournal.com]

As someone who works on an army base I can tell you the reality of this war and its toll are very palpable amongst those who fight.

:(

[apestyle.livejournal.com]

I don't wanna start something, but I hesitate to call the deaths "needless".

Re: :(

[bayushiboy.livejournal.com]

We're all entitled to our opinion. Mine just happens to be right. j.k. I'd like to see Iraq return to stability, but I fear that by invading another country without having a clear exit strategy is beyond foolish.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Of that I have no doubt.

[prince-inari.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a Marine that fought in the war when it was still a 'war' and not a humanitarian mission like it is now, I can confirm that.

To be honest, I kind of wanted to go back.

[gamethyme.livejournal.com]

The woman who took that photo apparently lost her job because of it.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

That is lame. So very lame.

[prince-inari.livejournal.com]

Well you can say that, but at the same time it's very likely that the photo was taken in a classified area (note that it's inside of an aircraft with gear loaded off to the side), and if not classified it was certainly 'sensitive'. For my part I'd much rather somebody that decided to go around snapping photos where they shouldn't be taken got fired than said photos be used against my brothers.

Besides, do we really need to SEE these pictures? We know there are dead troops coming home. Their families attend the funerals. There are Marines at their services, and their graves will be there until everyone forgets they ever lived at all.

Not that I didn't appreciate seeing the flags draped properly over those coffins, but I'm not particularly enriched by seeing it.

As you said "I support our troops, even though our president doesn't"

[seanb.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm glad to see the bodies of our fallen soldiers being treated with respect like this. I even agree with the intentions of the woman who took this photo, even if she cluelessly stepped across the line to the illegal.

It still looks like Bush hasn't been to any soldier funerals.

I like what Memory Hole is doing with the FOIA pictures. Browse the gallery, when their server load drops down a bit.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

*nods thoughtfully in silence for a bit*

I understand what you're saying. There are certainly things and places we do not want photographed due to the sensative nature (military or otherwise) of the things in the pictures. I would never want to compromise soldiers or sailors or airmen for something like that. That would be stupid and wrong.

On the other hand, I do feel enriched having seen this photo. I know there are soldiers coming home in boxes and I know what that looks like to some extent. I know that you know this in a way that I won't likely ever experience or really underestand. I also know, however, that a lot of people do their best to forget these things or push them out of thought as often as possible.

We have dead troops coming home and there are a lot of people who, while they /know/ this fact, they hold it away from themselves and don't allow it to mean anything to them. I don't like that, I don't want it to continue and this picture helps me to combat that apathy.

I don't want to see pictures like this all the time, everywhere. That would ruin the purpose for me. I do like seeing them every once in awhile because, along with things like meeting and getting to know you, it makes it personal. It gives it meaning of some sort. It doesn't allow me to slip into the apathy of uncaring and unwillingness to take responsibility that I see overtaking so many Americans these days.

Re: As you said "I support our troops, even though our president doesn't"

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Well, I support our troops even if I don't support the decision to send them. Something about the 'president doesn't' part bugs me looking at it. I believe he supports them and prays for them like many, many others.

I should light a candle tonight.

[crispengray.livejournal.com]

Basically, the Pentagon has placed a moratorium on any pictures of returning coffins like this. There are to be no pictures of any coffins of soldiers returning from Iraq.

Re: As you said "I support our troops, even though our president doesn't"

[prince-inari.livejournal.com]

The president does support us. Wisely, though, he spends his time with the living instead of the dead. The man made a trip to Iraq to meet the soldiers there in person, has made all kinds of visits to bases in the United States, including the base where I've served at Camp Lejeune, NC.

He's a good president, even if some people don't like him. Takes a hell of a leader to make an unpopular decision and stand by it.

A suggestion

[grayarcadian.livejournal.com]

http://www.georgemonbiot.com/dsp_article.cfm?article_id=648

I'd read this. I can't confirm what the anonymous soldier is taking about (i.e the very staged Thanksgiving Dinner, the cutting of VA benefits, etc.), but it does make interesting reading, and somthing to do my homework on.