A professor has sued for release of photos and video of the flag-draped coffins of military casualties arriving back on American soil.  Not only is this contrary to published Pentagon policy, but it is extremely insensitive to the families involved.  The public reasoning for this request is “the public's right to know the implications of U.S. foreign policy and to assess the price of war."  Personally, I think it is more about politics and Professor Begleiter's attempt to make a name for himself.

There is plenty of information available on US casualties.  (Obviously, since the news media seems to find their homes so quickly, to ask grieving parents and spouses how they feel about having their lives torn apart.)  There is no conspiracy here, and certainly no need to invade this deeply personal and sacred time.  Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and I, for one, am tired of seeing the pictures of grieving families whose burdens are obviously increased by the presence of a media circus at what should be an intensely private time.

Rather than assessing the price of war, Professor (for which you will find no answers from a photograph), assess, please, what makes your career more important than people's lives.  Honor all those who have served our country, and for those who are no longer with us, honor their memory and their families by respecting them in their time of grief.