In the April 12 issue, we published a photograph of the bodies of two Americans who had been murdered in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. The photograph showed the charred bodies hanging from the iron girders of a bridge over the Euphrates River. The image was raw, jarring, and, to many of you, offensive. I could recount at great length the debates that we had about running this photograph. But in the end I decided that because this was such an important moment, it was important to display the image accurately. Many of you, emphatically, disagreed. "Sensationalist journalism," Janet Au Hall wrote from Chino Hills, Calif. John R. Smith, a marine who served at Iwo Jima, called the use of the photograph "blatant sensationalism" and requested an apology. On reflection, I believe an apology is in order. Our intention was not to offend but to present a faithful record of a transformative moment. In so doing, however, we did offend, and for that I apologize. We erred.
Others of you wrote about a series of photographs we ran recently ["Return of the Fallen," April 5]. Peter J. Riga, who served as a chaplain in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, said he wept at the images of mothers and fathers burying their children who died serving in Iraq. "Thank you," he wrote, "for bringing this sorrow and price of freedom to the many Americans whose sons will never be in danger of loss through shot and shell." As always, we welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and criticisms. Please let us know what you're thinking. Thanks.
The Impact Of Images
I am a 16-year-old high school student. A peer of mine also wrote a letter regarding the images of the corpses of the burned and mutilated Americans pictured in "Hell's Fury" [April 12]. His purpose was to tell you how appalled he was about the images, but I would like to thank you for running them. It is easy to forget what's happening on the other side of the world. We need to see pictures to realize how real the war in Iraq and other conflicts are. American lives are being lost every day, and the image of the two corpses hanging there affected me a lot more than just hearing that two people were killed ever would have.
JOSEPH EKDAHL
Stamford, Texas
Regarding "Hell's Fury": As a military wife with two small children and whose husband is currently serving in Iraq, I was appalled and disgusted by photos of the horrendous act. You may feel inclined to report these happenings, but the photos were not necessary.
CAROLINE ERVASTI
Camp Lejeune, N.C.
"Images That Disconcert" raises the question whether showing these pictures was going too far or not. Well, you went too far. I ripped out the pages and returned them to you. Please consider carefully how much gore and carnage your readers need to see to get the full scope of war and human suffering.
SUSAN S. KOCHANEK
Westfield, Mass.
Though you published an explanation about the photos, no words can justify their use. Respect for the victims and their families should override "news" content. Some newspapers and TV news programs chose not to show the photos. We applaud them for not following the crowd.
RICHARD AND JERRY MAYE MUELLER
East Wenatchee, Wash.
advertisement
