On August 14, 2009 in Helmand, a southern province of Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Joshua M. Bernard was fatally wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade that blew off one leg and severely injured the other. While laying on the ground injured, an AP Photographer, Julie Jacobson, captured the images of Bernard lying below two soldiers helping him. Jacobson later decided to publish the photo, deeming it portrayed the 'grimness of war and the sacrifice of young men and women fighting it'.
Her reasons for publishing the photo were securely defended by the Associated Press, who also agreed that the image needed to be shown to the public about the reality of the war. However, Bernard's father argued against the image being published, saying that it was 'disrespectful to the memory of my son'. He argued that the image was too graphic, and also held the support of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Gates wrote letters to the president of the Associated Press, strongly asking him to reconsider publishing the photo. They later reconvened, but came to the same decision of publishing the image.
On a personal note, while I respect the wishes of Bernard's father and mother, the image does convey a strong reality in war. However graphic the image was, the public needed to know the true situation. The Associated Press also does have the right to produce the image, anyway.
Ragga.
1 comment:
Well I kind of disagree with you on the fact on publishing the pictures. I think it is something very personal that belongs to the family. It is their own decision to show them or not; and as I understood, the victim's father doesn't want everybody to see them. I would just respect his choice, event if I can understand how much it would be rewarding for people to see these pictures. I think it is very intrusive, for Bernard's family I mean.
But it is a great post! =)
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