Questions abound regarding the appropriateness of displaying horrific and gory images for the public to view. One instance that comes to mind is the images related to the death of Osama Bin Laden that the White House decided not to make public anymore. Society is divided whether White House should show the images or not. One side says it is important to show the pictures as proof that the fallen Al-Qaeda leader is indeed dead, while the other half is against it saying that everybody must be given decency in death and to ensure it will not trigger another problem with the Muslims (Cochrane, 2004). The problem with the images in question is how gruesome the images look like. For the spirit of truth and removal of any unnecessary speculations, images of Bin Laden must be released so people understand war and what happens in war.
As several of the reporters describe the Bin Laden picture, the images are so "gruesome" and "very gory. [Bin Laden] has a gaping wound above his left eye" (qtd. from McGlynn, 2011). Considering how the photo was shot, the image is sure to draw out varied reactions from people from all lifestyles - negative and positive to ethical and moral reactions.
For me, showing the image of Bin Laden is a representation of the struggles and pain of each family who lost a love one during the infamous 9/11 tragedy. It will always remind people how losing a love one feels like and at the same time, will show what happens to terrorists who cross the government's path. The image of a dead Bin Laden could bring forth feelings of closure for those victimized by Bin Laden's group, although there will be reactions concerning the ethical and moral side of displaying such images of a dead person – regardless of who he is or how he died.
Therefore, the issue as to whether the White House should release the Bin Laden pictures needs to be answered. As Jon Stewart discloses during one of his shows, people will only understand war if an individual is confronted with haunting images of war, of pictures of soldiers affected by war (McGlynn, 2011). The power of the images cannot be underestimated. Journalists have a responsibility to the people and whether images haunt the consciousness of people who view the images, the message that the Bin Laden photos bring is that aggressors must face the consequences of their actions. As Susan Sontag argues, "no one has a right to this kind of innocence, of superficiality, to this degree of ignorance, or amnesia Let the atrocious images haunt us. Even if they are only tokens, and cannot possibly encompass most of the reality to which they refer, they still perform a vital function. The images say: This is what human beings are capable of doing – may volunteer to do, enthusiastically, self-righteously" (cited in Petley, 2003. p. 84).
One thing that must be remembered is that even if the White House does not produce the images in public to prevent an iconic act from the Muslim sector, "one could argue that whenever human suffering remains invisible, violence will go on" (Schlag, 2012). Presenting sanitized versions of events will only make people ambiguous about the actual state of affairs or whether Bin Laden is, indeed, dead already. In the end, it can even result to indifference.
Works Cited
Cochrane, Paul. "To Show or Not to Show? Graphic Images in TV Media." Transnational Broadcasting Studies. Fall 2004. Web. 12 December 2012. < http://www.tbsjournal.com/Archives/Fall04/cochrane.html>.
McGlynn, Katla. "Jon Stewart Makes Case For Showing Dead Osama Bin Laden Photos." The Huffington Post. 2011. Web. 11 December 2012. < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/05/jon-stewart-dead-osama-bin-laden-photos_n_857947.html>.
Petley, Julian. "War Without Death: Responses to Distant Suffering." Journal for Crime, Conflict and the Media 1 (1) 71-85. 2003. Web. 11 December 2012. < http://ics-www.leeds.ac.uk/papers/pmt/exhibits/1876/Petley.pdf>.
Schlag, Gabi. "Imagining Terrorism: 9/11, Osama bin Laden and Hillary's Hand." Annual Conference of Millennium Materialism and World Politics. LSE, London. 20-22 October 2012. Keynote Address. 12 December 2012. < http://millenniumjournal.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/paper_gabi-schlag-millennium-2012.pdf>.
