A picture is worth a thousand words. Cliche, but true.
Ever since war photography hit the main media there has been controversy. The argument is whether it is necessary to publish gruesome photos of war in order to portray the real horror, or if words can do the job.
Some people believe that posting images of war can scar people forever. But I believe that people cannot hide behind their ignorance anymore; images of war ARE necessary. A huge percentage of the American population aren’t following the current war we are in. Some don’t think that it’s even a rule war. Well it is, and it’s been a horrid one. While casualities may not be as high as in past wars, the warfare and techniques are much more influential.
The wars in the Middle East are jam-packed with terrorism. American soldiers are being burned and tortured. Journalists are being kidnapped and beheaded. I believe that it is the job of the American media to not only relay the stories, but the photography to back it up. People respond more the pictures. Something about a picture can twist a heart more than text can. We are a visual society, therefore our news should be visual as well.
I understand the concern that parents want to protect the “innocence” of their children; Or that some people aren’t emotionally stable enough to handle the pictures. However, I do believe that the media has been doing a good job of protecting and informing the public, at the same time. Newspapers tend to put the more gruesome war images on the inside pages and warn the reader. News programs wait until later hours to post pictures. But most importantly, most media wait until the family of those in the picture are informed before showing it to the public.
No one is trying to harm anyone by showing images of war. The public needs to know what is going on in order to have a well-informed opinion.
