Relatives now given option, when dead soldiers are brought home

[CRedskinsRule]

I really think this will be a bad thing, but I understand the decision:

Pentagon lets media see return of US war dead

I would really be shocked if a lot of families choose to invite the media into these personal ceremonies, but seeing flag draped coffins even a couple times a week will "stir the pot" if we ever get serious in Afghanistan.

[Schneed10]

If it takes actually seeing the coffin to get an emotional reaction out of you, then you're an idiot in my opinion.

Not you, CRedskins, the figurative you.

What, seeing the coffin makes the soldiers more dead? If you don't realize what the cost of war is in the first place then your vote shouldn't count!

I don't see why this is an issue. I fully realize men and women will come back dead from this war. Seeing the coffin doesn't change my thinking at all.

[dmek25]

its like anything else. the more you see something, the more your reminded of it. war is an ugly thing, that our government doesn't want it stuck in peoples minds.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by dmek25

its like anything else. the more you see something, the more your reminded of it. war is an ugly thing, that our government doesn't want it stuck in peoples minds.

No. The government we have now (Obama) wants the people to have the freedom to see it, and the press to have the freedom to cover it.

The previous administration under Bush thought it was disrespectful to the families for the media to cover it. You can allege/opine that they were trying to control the public's view on it, but understand that was not their public stance. Their public stance was it was a matter of respect for the dead and their families.

[saden1]

Having choice is a good thing. We always allowed for covering the arrival of dead service men prior to '91 so I don't buy the disrespectful argument.

[CRedskinsRule]

I think in this case, giving the family the choice is the appropiate policy.

[KLHJ2]

I liked the old policy, but I like the new policy better. Personally, I wouldn't want the media at a family members funeral, but not everbody feels that way. If the next of kin want to make it public, then that is his/her choice. Personally, if I was watching the news and the media were covering a deceased servicemember then I would probably change the channel.

[Daseal]

I'm fine with this. There are two choices that happen -- first a choice of the family to allow it. Second, the choice of the viewer to watch it. Don't want to see it? Flip the channel.

[Hog1]

I CANNOT think of anything more emotional than a military funeral.......
Any funeral is.....rough, but military is the roughest as far as I am concerned. Taps is the saddest thing I have ever heard.......21 gun salute.......flag draped coffin.....yow
Actually, the history of "Taps" is quite interesting. However, there is more than one account.
This one is my favorite

The History of Taps

[JoeRedskin]

Good policy. The government should not be making blanket decisions for grieving families. What they [the government] should do is say, "If you say 'no coverage', we will (figuratively) kick the ass of any reporter that comes sniffing around".

[firstdown]

Just so people are not confused its not the funeral but the arrival of the bodies that is the issue. I don't have a problem giving the family the choice.