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Highlands Today

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Draped coffins

Jim Vokes

Published: April 10, 2009

Is it now okay to publish photos of the draped coffins of our dead sons and daughters killed defending freedom around the world? Yes. Parents must give consent before the photos are allowed, however those caskets represent much more than the dead sons and daughters of those parents giving their consent.
Those caskets, when photographed and published, represent the sons and daughters of all the parents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles whose loved ones have given their lives for their country and for the freedom of others across the world. Their right to grieve is being trampled on by those photos so deeply symbolic of the commitment of our great country.
In addition, parental permission will not stop the exploitation of those public photos by the Taliban, Hamas, Al Qaida, Michael Moore, John Murpha, Harry Reid and the rest of the "fanatical left crazies;" also, how about exploitation of the photos by Iran, North Korea, the Dixie Chicks, Barbara Streisand, etc. How about Rachael Maddow and Keith Olbermann. Need I go on?
If you and others see no problem, that's fine. God Bless!
Jim Vokes
Avon Park