I am completely sickened by your decision to print the graphic photos of the American contractors killed in Fallujah. The media seems to follow some ridiculous logic that since these bodies are “unidentifiable,” then it’s OK to print the photos.

That’s absurd! The families of those victims look at these photos, and they know one of those bodies belongs to their loved one. My father is currently serving in Iraq and will be for the next 18 months, minimum.

I’ll be damned if the media ever printed photos of his charred body for the whole world to see.

Here’s a thought: Why don’t we try to show the positive outcomes of this war? The majority of Iraqis are truly grateful for the freedom that we have provided them.

Many of our soldiers cannot go one single day without being thanked by an Iraqi civilian, but how often are we privileged to view this in our media?

I would like to ask those anti-war persons to consider some other viewpoints. It no longer matters whether we believe we should or shouldn’t have gone into Iraq.

The fact is we are there now, and the troops need to know we support their mission and the reason they are risking their lives; otherwise we are just lowering their morale.

In concluding, I would like to share one of my father’s stories. He was stationed in Wisconsin for three months (December to February) awaiting his departure for Iraq while undergoing back to back 20-hour days of grueling training.

As one can imagine, having three months in the middle of winter of such conditions really takes a toll physically and emotionally.

One bitterly cold, windy day after finishing training, he went to get gas while still in his fatigues.

As he was pumping his gas, a professionally dressed woman approached him.

She shook his hand and thanked him for his service. Words cannot describe the dramatic effects this simple gesture had.

We all should follow her example.

Jamie Bowers

Sophomore

Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies