2008 Woodie Awards
Turning Sept. 11 lemons into patriotic lemonade
By: Patrick Devine
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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Cameras caught the terrified, dirty and bloody faces of people as they ran from the burning towers. The world was the audience to one of the worst acts of terrorism. Millions watched the events unfold before their eyes. "We will never forget" became the motto for the people of the United States, and that saying couldn't be more accurate. That day will never be forgotten for a lot of reasons. That kind of destruction and devastation was seen in Hollywood, not in real life.
The events of Sept. 11 changed the world in many ways. According to an NBC Nightly News poll, 55 percent of the country feels less safe or about the same as they did before Sept. 11.
The Internet and 24-hour news channels have made viewing history and amazing video easier than ever. There seem to be cameras everywhere, including phones, stoplights and on some city corners. Cameras allow us to see almost anything at any time.
People with video cameras and video cell phones are everywhere. While the number of people carrying these devices has increased, there are other ways to get access to pictures, film and general information.
The Freedom of Information Act allows people to make requests for photos or video. Last year, a journalism professor from the University of Delaware made a request for pictures of fallen soldiers returning home in flag-draped caskets. Some argued that the photos were indecent and disrespectful to the families of the soldiers. Others said the sight of a wooden casket with the American flag draped across would be a reminder of how brave those men and women had been.
Last year, the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey found that, of the families of soldiers who served in Iraq, 54 percent said they thought allowing media to show pictures of anonymous coffins would increase respect for the troops. Only 6 percent said they felt it would decrease respect.
After Sept. 11, there was an outcry for the footage not to be shown because some said it was too hard for the families of the victims. Five years later, this country is still at war and the unity felt after Sept. 11 is an afterthought.
The events of Sept. 11 changed the world in many ways. According to an NBC Nightly News poll, 55 percent of the country feels less safe or about the same as they did before Sept. 11.
The Internet and 24-hour news channels have made viewing history and amazing video easier than ever. There seem to be cameras everywhere, including phones, stoplights and on some city corners. Cameras allow us to see almost anything at any time.
People with video cameras and video cell phones are everywhere. While the number of people carrying these devices has increased, there are other ways to get access to pictures, film and general information.
The Freedom of Information Act allows people to make requests for photos or video. Last year, a journalism professor from the University of Delaware made a request for pictures of fallen soldiers returning home in flag-draped caskets. Some argued that the photos were indecent and disrespectful to the families of the soldiers. Others said the sight of a wooden casket with the American flag draped across would be a reminder of how brave those men and women had been.
Last year, the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey found that, of the families of soldiers who served in Iraq, 54 percent said they thought allowing media to show pictures of anonymous coffins would increase respect for the troops. Only 6 percent said they felt it would decrease respect.
After Sept. 11, there was an outcry for the footage not to be shown because some said it was too hard for the families of the victims. Five years later, this country is still at war and the unity felt after Sept. 11 is an afterthought.
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