The issue of whether or not to allow the publication of photos of the coffins of American soldiers has been smoldering since last week when The Seattle Times published the first publicly seen image. It is clearly a painful and divisive issue that has even led to an argument between a co-worker and me who usually agree on issues related to the Iraqi war.
It is my steadfast feeling that release of pictures of fallen soldiers is merely part history, a painful but necessary reminder of the reality of what war brings. But as a pacifist with a strong anti-war stance, my opinion holds no weight for anyone but myself.
Today The Seattle Times published a letter from Bill Mitchell, a father who believes that one of those coffins held his only son, SSG Michael W. Mitchell, killed in action in Iraq April 4. It is hard to ignore and not be moved by the thoughts of a father who just lost his son in a war half a world away.
From that letter…
“Hiding the death and destruction of this war does not make it easier on anyone except those who want to keep the truth away from the people. I know that the current government policy has the bodies being flown in under the cloak of darkness. I also know that photographers are barred from the area so that pictures such as the one you ran in your newspaper can not be shown to the people.” (Read the full letter here)
In addition to the issue of whether it is proper or not to display the photos is the larger and darker issue of the White House’s stance on the issue. I have been stumbling for the right way to express my feelings on the issue, but once again, NPR Senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that which I have not been able to articulate, that the Bush administration’s motivation for banning publication of pictures of flag-draped coffins may have more to do with a desire to downplay casualty numbers than with concern for the families of the fallen soldiers.