Lawyers, Politicians or Media?

I am really having a hard time deciding who is worse these days. This link was sent to me by a friend of mine who happens to be a Marine. To say that he was upset would be an understatement of colossal proportions. The story is about a reporter that was on patrol with Marines in Afghanistan. What happens on that patrol is a very sad and real part of war: Marines die. On this occasion it happened to be a young Marine, Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard who was killed by a rocket propelled grenade.

First and foremost; Thank You to Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard. Thank you for serving your country. Thank you for fighting for my freedom and the freedom of others. And thank you for protecting this county and defending us against all enemies so that I and my family may sleep safely each night. And my condolences to his family. May I never know the pain you are feeling.

This is when things start to fall apart and get really, really wrong. This reporter that has been assigned to this unit (a unit that has been charged with keeping this reporter alive, by the way), decides that it would be appropriate to photograph this wounded soldier as he died. And then have the nerve and complete lack of respect as to make these pictures public. Has she lost her ever loving mind? What possible good could come from publishing these pictures? What did she hope to accomplish? All she did was show a complete lack of respect and consideration for the Marine, his family, the military at large and our Country.

I understand that war is ugly. I know that people die; young people. Citizens and soldiers. But there is no excuse for this kind of sensational reporting with no regard for the consequences. Everyone knows bad things happen in war without having to show such incredible disrespect to a hero to prove a point. I firmly believe in the free press with no external censorship. But, some kind of self governance has to take place.

As far as I am concerned, Ms. Jacobson of the AP should apologize to the family and the Marines and just say thank you. Thank you to a young Marine who was doing his job, so that she was free to do hers.

Support our military. It is the least they deserve.