Home Politics & Debate
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.

Should the BBC show dead soldiers' bodies.

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Despite the wishes of the families of the dead British soldiers, the BBC has decided to show their dead bodies as part of a broadcast on Gulf War 2. What do you think?

I can see it both ways. If you want to show the horrors of war...you have to show everything. If you want to honor people who fought to protect you...showing their dead bodies might not be the best way.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003241202,00.html

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Well everyday of that war we saw bodies of dead Iraqis.....

    I can understand the wishes of the families, it depends what the images are for and if they are for a BBC doucmnetary and they add to the analysis then they should be in.

    All wars are televised now, soldiers must realise this when they join the army?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    On the other hand, a lot of Iraqi probably wanted to emphasize their current situation and could do so by showing bodies.

    While the UK/US/etc. doesn't really need to do that, as they already have the limelight.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Well it shouldn't be politically motivated, Blair should not be able to tell the media what to do.......
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The hypocrisy and double standards shown by the right wing press and others during the war emerges again.

    First we complain when the Iraqis show PoWs on TV (which is exactly what the US first in Cuba, and the Allies later during the war have been doing shamelessly), and now try to dictate what can or can't be shown on TV.

    Unpleasant it might be, even distasteful, but at the end of the day it's up to the BBC to show it.

    Besides, perhaps the footage will show new light on whether those soldiers were executed like Mr Tony had claimed. Are some people upset that yet another of their war propaganda claims might be revealed to be a load of bollocks?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The BBC has a right to editorial independence. In fact I think it is only a good thing that the bodies are shown, upsetting for the families of course but they don't have to and probably shouldn't watch, anyway it is a good thing that the bodies are shown - it shows the effects of all the bangs and clouds of dust we see on the TV news and shows that war isn't just a game. That's why the right wing press are so anti broadcasting images of the dead bodies, they'd much prefer that the public thought of it as a huge fireworks display and only heard statistics which will go in one ear and out the other. Showing dead people on television shows the effects of war and should be encouraged, if the people of Britain and America through their government's actions are prepared to go to war they should look at the consequences of the war they started which it now seems didn't even have a legitimate purpose.
Sign In or Register to comment.