Yeah, this won't turn into a circus of grandstanding TV haircuts all trying to out-whore each other. Good thing it's happening at 11:00 at night on a Sunday otherwise it'd be wall-to-wall YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT...

/hope i'm wrong

Hmm, why yes in our age of sensationalism-based media it's a good idea to let these vultures with cameras wait at the airport to be able to take the best and most shocking/saddening pictures of coffins containing the bodies of men who literally gave their lives because they believe in this country this is in no way demeaning their dignity or their family.

/Not saying we should censor the news that come from Iraq, far from it, but we don't need to go the other way either.

welcome home, airman.
rest in peace.

Tatsuma: Hmm, why yes in our age of sensationalism-based media it's a good idea to let these vultures with cameras wait at the airport to be able to take the best and most shocking/saddening pictures of coffins containing the bodies of men who literally gave their lives because they believe in this country this is in no way demeaning their dignity or their family.

/Not saying we should censor the news that come from Iraq, far from it, but we don't need to go the other way either.

One could argue that it was the previous blackout that will cause the upcoming "ZOMG A DEAD GUY HURRY GET PICTURES!!" frenzy as the casket rolls off the aircraft. If they hadn't made such a huge deal out of the "NO PHOTOGRAPHS" rule before and had instead allowed people to see the human cost of war, this wouldn't cause me to shudder in revulsion at what they're going to do as much as it would make me sigh and lament the costs of war.

Tatsuma: Hmm, why yes in our age of sensationalism-based media it's a good idea to let these vultures with cameras wait at the airport to be able to take the best and most shocking/saddening pictures of coffins containing the bodies of men who literally gave their lives because they believe in this country this is in no way demeaning their dignity or their family.

/Not saying we should censor the news that come from Iraq, far from it, but we don't need to go the other way either.

It's complicated though, no?

Which is worse: media covering the funerals of individual soldiers as they are buried; the family surrounding the coffin, the mother being handed the flag..

Or the cold, almost industrial anonymous rows of coffins being loaded into trucks from cargo planes?

I've covered the first one for newspapers. A number of times. It was never pleasant, but we were always respectful. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but not once were we even politely asked to leave. Media was welcome. They were proud of what their son or daughter gave, or at the very least they didn't want to be alone.

We weren't vultures.

I understand some media outlets can be jerks about things. God knows I've seen it. But it wasn't most of us.

Like I said, I think it's complicated.

It's about time. Seeing the coffins reminds Americans of the cost of sending our soldiers into battle.

Scrophulous Barking Duck: It's about time. Seeing the coffins reminds Americans of the cost of sending our soldiers into battle.

EXACTLY this. War kills young people. NEVER EVER EVER forget that.

Our country should never be sheltered from the terrible costs of war. Perhaps when we see how many of our heroic young people have died in battle, we would refrain from traveling down such a horrific path with such reckless abandon.

It is easily one of the most heart wrenching, horrible times in these families lives. And, as Americans, we all share a part in it. I think we should all take time out of our day to realize the ultimate sacrifice that our fellow Americans have paid.

For far too long, we have marginalized those flag-covered caskets. They have become rows upon rows in the back of cargo planes. Statistics on a page. A solemn numbered headline with a sad tag next to it on this very web page.

The battles they died in are prone to buzzwords that politicians can use for election victories. The costs are glazed over and you can denounce your political opponent for not supporting the troops. Meanwhile, you keep the American public blind enough that they don't see what their political victories cost.

Support the troops. Honor their sacrifice. Pay them some motherf*cking respect instead of hiding them for fear of creating public resentment of the campaign.

I want everybody to see what we've lost because of these wars. Maybe next time we'll think about that loss before letting jingoism get the best of us.

bronyaur1: EXACTLY this. War kills young people. NEVER EVER EVER forget that.

this quote seems appropriate.

"There are certain rules about a war. Rule number one is young men die. And rule number two is doctors can't change rule number one."

Scrophulous Barking Duck: It's about time. Seeing the coffins reminds Americans of the cost of sending our soldiers into battle.

Only farking idiots don't know the cost of war. Oh wait, I forgot where I was.

I'm torn.... the guy deserves to be honored, but Fred Phelps could well show up with his traveling freak show.

Maybe it's best left private. There's no info that can be conveyed via the media from a picture of a coffin that couldn't be conveyed better by a picture of the guy and a blurb about what he did for us.

Libs will finally have their chance to use the media to exploit the dead for political gain. Way to go libtards, i'm sure the corpses are gonna be extra proud of the way they served knowing they can now be put on display as part of the liberal agenda.

/My uncle died in ww2 and if these bastards tried to put his corpse on display like this, there would be hell to pay.
//this is just a sad commentary on the insatiability of the 24 hour liberal news media.
///my heart weeps for these men and what their families are about to go through.

im not going to mention his name but im going to bet that him and his wannabe protesting church of stupidity is going to be there.

and i hope he gets his ass kicked.

I agree with this. It should be the decision of the family. Personally I wouldn't want it for my loved one.


/Let's hope that it doesn't turn into a media/Phelps circus

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

That is disgusting. I hope the soldiers can check a box before they serve on whether they give permission for media to invade their privacy in such a grotesque way. They deserve respect, not exploitation by CNN for political purposes.

Paint thine honorable scars with vermillion.
To conceal them will arouse suspicion.
/from the Shanee beginings of wisdom.

Scrophulous Barking Duck: It's about time. Seeing the coffins reminds Americans of the cost of sending our soldiers into battle.

Bingo. Our networks will cover the arrival of a soldier's body upon his return to Canada as a clip on the evening news. The cost IS high, and we all need to be remined of it...

Gulper Eel [TotalFark] Quote 2009-04-05 08:52:28 PM
Yeah, this won't turn into a circus of grandstanding TV haircuts all trying to out-whore each other. Good thing it's happening at 11:00 at night on a Sunday otherwise it'd be wall-to-wall YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT...

THIS and Fred Phelps, Anti-War nutjobs protesting.

If it would be executed like Canada's Hero Highway (new window), then I would be all for it. Nothing but respect for those who make the ultimate sacrifice for not just Our Freedom, but for those of people worldwide.

I have quite a few American friends, and a lot of them forget that they're at war. This isn't something small, a disagreement between countries. It's WAR. It's not a world war, but during those times, everyone was doing what they could to help the cause. Victory gardens, war bonds, helping out. And now, things seem so much more detached, and far away.

I think people need to be reminded of war, and they need to be a little shocked about it. Knock people out of their comfortable seats and take off their shaders. This is war, and they're losing many of the younger generation.

SilentStrider: "There are certain rules about a war. Rule number one is young men die. And rule number two is doctors can't change rule number one."

me likes some M*A*S*H.

/RIP

Tatsuma: Hmm, why yes in our age of sensationalism-based media it's a good idea to let these vultures with cameras

While I don't disagree with your sentiments, this will probably occur merely due to the previous 18 year ban. I believe most people offer Canada as an example, and I would say they're a fairly good one with regards to a sorrowful but respectful return home under the eyes of family, country-men, and cameras.

bronyaur1: Scrophulous Barking Duck: It's about time. Seeing the coffins reminds Americans of the cost of sending our soldiers into battle.

EXACTLY this. War kills young people. NEVER EVER EVER forget that.

It also kills the bad guys.

modestlivinglegend: That is disgusting. I hope the soldiers can check a box before they serve on whether they give permission for media to invade their privacy in such a grotesque way. They deserve respect, not exploitation by CNN for political purposes.

Seriously, the article is 3 short paragraphs. Can you and some of the others just read it before posting? Sheesh.

hillarymom44: /My uncle died in ww2 and if these bastards tried to put his corpse on display like this, there would be hell to pay.
//this is just a sad commentary on the insatiability of the 24 hour liberal news media.
///my heart weeps for these men and what their families are about to go through.

The news media was allowed to cover the returning dead during WWII.

The evil liberal media has been doing it for 65 years.

They started the policy after GHWBush got toasted in a split screen of returning dead while he was joking with reporters at a Christmas party.

You should turn the troll down.

QFTA:

The new policy announced in February gives families a choice of whether to admit the news media to ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the entry point to the United States for the caskets of overseas war dead.

People grieve in different ways. Don't project your feelings onto a family who, for whatever reason, decided their dead boy's return deserved to be shown.

why should I waste my beautiful mind on this? Unacceptable.

oh yeah...
GOBAMA!

SilentStrider: bronyaur1: EXACTLY this. War kills young people. NEVER EVER EVER forget that.

this quote seems appropriate.

"There are certain rules about a war. Rule number one is young men die. And rule number two is doctors can't change rule number one."


-Knew his shiat.

Are there really people dumb enough to not realize people die in war until they see it on their television? Wait, what am I saying? Of course there are.

In 1989, television networks showed split-screen images of President George H.W. Bush joking with reporters on one side and a military honor guard unloading coffins from a military action that he had ordered in Panama on the other.

MIguy: Scrophulous Barking Duck: It's about time. Seeing the coffins reminds Americans of the cost of sending our soldiers into battle.

Only farking idiots don't know the cost of war. Oh wait, I forgot where I was.

You mean America?

Does anyone know if CNN or anyone is covering it live?

/Working away from the TV.
//ugh.

Is there a war going on?

Sorry, I've been shopping.

AmazingRuss: I'm torn.... the guy deserves to be honored, but Fred Phelps could well show up with his traveling freak show.

Maybe it's best left private. There's no info that can be conveyed via the media from a picture of a coffin that couldn't be conveyed better by a picture of the guy and a blurb about what he did for us.

My money is on Fred Phelps not having access to Dover Air Force Base.

lol @ this concern anyways; the only thing newish is that the media is covering it, the bodies have been coming through Dover for years. And by allowing the media to cover it, we're just reversing a Bush policy... it's not a new thing.

May he be the first of many!

Hero. That is all.

AmazingRuss: Maybe it's best left private. There's no info that can be conveyed via the media from a picture of a coffin that couldn't be conveyed better by a picture of the guy and a blurb about what he did for us.

Are you farking stupid??

Look at how the Canucks honor their fallen troops:


Here

Publicly honoring the troops as they're carried to their final resting place is absolutely the right thing to do.

hillarymom44: Libs will finally have their chance to use the media to exploit the dead for political gain. Way to go libtards, i'm sure the corpses are gonna be extra proud of the way they served knowing they can now be put on display as part of the liberal agenda.

/My uncle died in ww2 and if these bastards tried to put his corpse on display like this, there would be hell to pay.
//this is just a sad commentary on the insatiability of the 24 hour liberal news media.
///my heart weeps for these men and what their families are about to go through.

What, was he also your brother or husband or something? Sorry but soon as you mentioned the word libtard, then even more pathetically parroted the mixing of it with media...your opinion and anecdote are both nothing but whistling of hot air escaping a toothless opening that some how speaks on your behalf.

Joce678: May he be the first of many!

I hope I missed the snark. Otherwise, your GF requested her douche back.

chef_riggy

Yes, and...well done!.

Tatsuma: Hmm, why yes in our age of sensationalism-based media it's a good idea to let these vultures with cameras wait at the airport to be able to take the best and most shocking/saddening pictures of coffins containing the bodies of men who literally gave their lives because they believe in this country this is in no way demeaning their dignity or their family.

/Not saying we should censor the news that come from Iraq, far from it, but we don't need to go the other way either.

I came here to say something like this, but it's already been said better than I could have done.

Strange how they don't ban the reporting of terrorism.

That's about dead people too...

The media will cover the coffins ONCE, and that will be the end of it. Any coverage from here on out will make Obama look bad, so the media won't cover it.

the media can only cover the funerals at the request of the family. If the family says no then it's still off limits to the media. I just hope the family's that do give the ok are treated with the respect they deserve.

/meant in all good taste
//this rocks so awesome

wookiemonster: Any coverage from here on out will make Obama look bad, so the media won't cover it.

How, exactly?

Myers was a member of the 48th Civil Engineer squadron, a part of the military dedicated to building instead of destroying. That's what makes him a hero. His death makes him a victim.

His family, I hope, have made sure his death wasn't completely pointless.

If President Obama would have ended the war like he said he was going to, we would not have to bear witness to the grief of this Airman's family.
Good job Baracky.

Here's the deal folks: Does anybody honestly believe that outlets like ABC, CNN, BBC, New York Times, SF Chronicle, NBC....hell, take your pick....Al Jazeera, any of them want access to photograph American coffins because they want to honor the American soldier? Yeah, right. They'll wait with baited breath to get a picture of a dead American soldier or a dead civilian, but will they publish any photos of a dead insurgent/terrorist?