Ethical questions often arise regarding the public display of photographs in journalism. Often, the question is not whether the media can show a photograph or video image, the question is if they should show the image at all.

It turns into a Shakespearean analogy: To show or not to show?

It is a concept the news media had to contemplate recently in regards to photographs of the bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein, Saddam’s sons, who were killed in a gun battle July 22 in Mosul, in the northern part of Iraq. Members of The Associated Press, Reuters and Al-Jazeera were allowed to photograph and videotape the two bodies.

The images are moderately disturbing. Each body contains more than 20 bullets, according to CNN. In the photographs, lacerations and covered up bullet wounds are visible. Wounds from the autopsy are noticeable in the videos. The photographs are available for general viewing on the CNN Web site, www.cnn.com, at no cost.

The purpose of showing the images is to assure the American public these men are dead. Apparently, the government does not trust its word to be good enough for the citizens anymore — visual proof must also be provided.

The bodies, however, were modified before reporters were given a chance to photograph. Some wounds to the head were covered, and the faces had a waxy appearance. Facial hair was shaved to make the brothers look more like they did when they were alive.

Due to the adaptations, some citizens might question whether these photos really are of Saddam’s sons.

The video footage is also being shown during prime hours, not just late at night. Even though the network may carry a disclaimer before the images are shown, it does not prevent young children from seeing the footage. Five-year-olds shouldn’t have access to images of bodies.

Media outlets must question if these gruesome images advance the story.

Earlier this summer, the Daily chose not to run photographs from Ann McGowan’s trial that contained images of her dead baby. The Editor in Chief decided the photos did not advance the story. The images, despite providing immediate shock value, were adequately described in the article about the trial.

A great outcry occurred in the United States when pictures of American POWs were shown on Al-Jazeera during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Imagine the shock and outrage that would occur if Al-Jazeera showed images of Jenna and Barbara Bush, our leader’s twin daughters, obliterated by a firestorm of bullets.

Turn the tables, and U.S. officials and citizens are not too keen on showing the bodies of those whom perished during battle.