More Photos from Abu Ghraib

Today, the internet magazine Salon published more of the photos of Abu Ghraib abuse. I was sad to see these photos, but accepted their publication, until the last paragraph of the accompanying article which explained why they felt they had to show them. Walter Shapiro, Salon's Washington Bureau Chief, wrote:

"That is why Salon is willing to publish these troubling photographs, even as we are ashamed to live in a country that somehow came to accept that torture and prisoner abuse were simply business as usual -- something that occurs while a sergeant catches up on his paperwork."

I wrote my first "Letter to the Editor" in response. This is not something I usually do but I guess this one got under my skin. Here's what I fired off at them. It was published under the headline: "It's not what you did, it's why you did it..."

Unlike Walter Shapiro, I am not "ashamed to live in a country that somehow came to accept that torture and prisoner abuse were simply business as usual."

I am most definitely ashamed of everyone who participated in the insanity of Abu-Ghraib, yes, but I do not paint all the rest of our military or our citizens or even our politicians with that same brush.

If Salon or Walter Shapiro has evidence that "the country" came to accept these abuses as "business as usual", then bring that material forward. It simply does not exist. To argue that Republicans in congress didn't investigate as fully as Shapiro felt necessary may have merit but it does not bolster that stubborn conclusion of his. For the record, the "country" was shocked and outraged at these photos and the vast, vast majority of our citizens believed that such practices had no place, even in a military prison.

I am a life-long liberal Democrat who worked many years as a journalist but when I see Walter Shapiro reaching so hard to make such a wrong-headed conclusion, I can see why many Americans are exasperated by both Democrats and journalists. Bad news should not be used as a "gotcha" for anybody's political beliefs. When people who represent my country behave badly, I understand the need for their punishment and it brings me sorrow. But I am not ashamed to live in my country. I am ashamed of them.

This is a serious issue. I defend Salon's right to publish still more of these pictures (if you feel you have to) but I am very angry that you are doing this, not out of love of country, but out of hate. Please, get a clue. 

Sadly, it's not a freedom of the press or public's right to know issue. Salon, to the best of my knowledge, refused to publish the cartoons that have triggered all these violent protests, despite the fact that most of us have never seen them to really look at them closely and decide if they merit death threats, murder in the streets and burned buildings. Abu Ghraib photos? Well, we've seen plenty. Where's the courage here? Where's the balance? Does Salon only stand up to the Bush Administration? Why not insane violent protestors?

If you want to see the latest pictures, or read Shapiro's article, you're going to have to find it on your own because I'm not giving them a free link here.

Comments

[Michael Cullina]

Well done!

[Rev. Thomas S. Painter (R)]

Liberal media got you down? Try the truth instead:

Abu Ghraib Winning Iraqi Hearts and Minds

http://www.pentagon.mil/news/Mar2005/20050317_221.html