Donklephant » Blog Archive » Crude Exploitation of Troop Deaths

Crude Exploitation of Troop Deaths

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Iraq

I shouldnâ€™t link to this image because it is exploitative. But I do so anyway because I have a need to chastise those who created it and are using it for political gain.

The image (which I will not reproduce here) is made up of the photographs of the 4,000 American troops lost in Iraq. Those photographs have been digitally manipulated to create a mosaic featuring John McCain and George W. Bush smiling. The obvious message: these two men are to blame for these deaths and they take joy in it.

To turn the sacrifice of 4,000 Americans into a crude political statement is deplorable. I have no problem with those who wish to discuss and/or criticize the war in relation to the 4,000 weâ€™ve lost but I take great umbrage with those who would manipulate those 4,000 lives and exploit their deaths just to paint their political opponents as demons. Some might find the image poignant. I find it reprehensible.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 and is filed under Iraq. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “Crude Exploitation of Troop Deaths”

Aaron Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I agree whole-heartedly. When I saw this yesterday, my first thought was “that’s just wrong”.

Those pictures represent people (PEOPLE) who gave their lives for their country. I don’t support those that caused this war, but that does not change the fact that these Americans gave their lives honorably.

Their lives should not be used to make a crass joke.
Agnostick Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Like a school teacher in summertime…

NO CLASS!
Justin Gardner Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 9:56 am
No, you definitely NEED to link to it. Otherwise people won’t see how hacky the left can be too.

Yeah, that’s just wrong. How tasteless.
Avinash_Tyagi Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
The truth is not crude or crass, it is bitter however, they gave their lives in a pointless endeavour. Does that diminish their courage, no, but all the courage in the world won’t change that they died because of a group of very selfish and self-serving people.
Dos Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am
“Otherwise people wonâ€™t see how hacky the left can be too.” You are always good for a laugh, JG. I don’t know, a few things have tipped me off prior to this beautiful mosiac.

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