Do you think they should televise the names of soldiers killed?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4864247/

I have mixed emotions about this.

As a veteran myself, I do believe they should be recognized. I'd rather see a memorial built. But right now there's too much politically going on and it's a bad time to put it on TV.

Also, there is still fighting going on...why not wait until all is said and done.
Oh yeah, politics and TV ratings.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/0...ine/index.html

(CNN) -- Sinclair Broadcast Group has ordered its seven ABC stations not to broadcast Friday's "Nightline" that will air the names and photographs of the more than 500 U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war.

In a statement online, the Sinclair group said the "Nightline" program "appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."

Sinclair's decision, announced Thursday, drew angry calls from the public and a sharp response from ABC News.

"We respectfully disagree with Sinclair's decision to pre-empt 'Nightline's' tribute to America's fallen soldiers," ABC News said in a statement. "The 'Nightline' broadcast is an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."

Some of the stations have received many calls and e-mails in response to Sinclair's decision.

"I have not gotten one positive response," said an assignment desk editor at WSYX, the ABC station in Columbus, Ohio.

WEAR in Pensacola, Florida, has been inundated with phone calls and e-mails. A man who answered the phone in the station's newsroom said people mostly wanted to know why the decision was made.

On the Web site for WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina, the station invited viewers to e-mail the station and said it would forward the messages to Sinclair.

The company's other ABC stations are in St. Louis, Missouri; Charleston, West Virginia; Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Springfield, Massachusetts.

The show, titled "The Fallen," will air at 11:35 p.m. Friday. In it, newsman Ted Koppel will read the names of the U.S. troops killed in action while their pictures are shown to viewers.

As of Thursday, 533 U.S. troops have been killed in action in the Iraq war; another 204 troops have died from nonhostile incidents.

Sinclair general counsel Barry Faber confirmed the company told its ABC affiliates not to air Friday's Nightline.

"We find it to be contrary to public interest," he said.

ABC said that on the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks it aired the names and pictures of all those who died on that day.

"ABC News will continue to report on all facets of the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism in a manner consistent with the standards which ABC News has set for decades," it said.

Sinclair's statement said ABC is politicizing the war.

"Mr. Koppel and 'Nightline' are hiding behind this so-called tribute in an effort to highlight only one aspect of the war effort and in doing so to influence public opinion against the military action in Iraq," the statement said.

According to campaign finance records, four of Sinclair's top executives each have given the maximum campaign contribution of $2,000 to the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.

The executives have not given any donations to the campaign of Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, the records showed.

Sinclair owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 62 stations in 39 markets, according to its Web site.

In addition its ABC outlets, Sinclair's television group includes 20 Fox, 19 WB, six UPN, three CBS and four NBC affiliates, and two independent stations.

It reaches approximately 24 percent of all U.S. television households, according to the Web site.

ABC News will show the tribute live on its large television screen in New York's Times Square

I think they should be recognized.

Our unit is building a memorial for the soldiers we lost. At our Battalion Ball, they showed a video of the soldiers in Kuwait, Iraq, the families back home and the soldiers we lost in our unit. It was really good, made me cry.

Yes, of course, along with a picture of them. Every soldier should be a "hero", they've earned that status.

http://www.opensecrets.org/industrie....asp?Ind=C2100

TV/Radio Stations:
Top Contributors

Rank 9
Organization Sinclair Broadcast Group
Amount $65,434
Dems 2%
Repubs 98%

Originally Posted by Txsweeper Yes, of course, along with a picture of them. Every soldier should be a "hero", they've earned that status.

Txsweeper,

We agree on something! What are the odds? Maybe we should have a parade.

Sweepy:sleep2:

Originally Posted by Tametaz http://www.opensecrets.org/industrie....asp?Ind=C2100 TV/Radio Stations: Top Contributors Rank 9 Organization Sinclair Broadcast Group Amount $65,434 Dems 2% Repubs 98%

Very interersting chart, thanks

It's interesting that I just found your poll. I have the TV on in the background and wasn't really paying attention to it, but then noticed that they had been reading off a list of something for a LONG while. I turned to see what they were doing, and they were naming and showing pictures of fallen soldiers. I thought it was a nice, simple and classy tribute to those individuals. I think it's so easy to view this war on a non-personal level because it's something that's happening in a world far away with people many of us don't personally know. Plus the news concentrates more on bombs and helicopters and hummers, and really only focuses on lives lost when there's a large number of them at one time. Anyway, for me seeing those soldiers brought it a little closer to home and made it more personal. It made it real. About people and not about politics. I feel the same about the pictures of the soldiers coming home in coffins. No one is showing anything grotesque or shocking. They are beautiful photographs and those photographs, for me anyway, tell a much greater story than most newscasts.

Just my opinion. The saddest thing is neither side, the political forces who don't want them shown nor the media who do, is fighting for those kids who died. Politics is about politics as usual, and media is about headlines and ratings. I hope the public and especially the families prevail when it's time to truly honor and remember these soliders.

They did a reading of all the people who died in the WTC, the Pentagon and the plane that "crashed" in Pennsylvania...

Don't our soldiers who died for our country deserve the same recognition? I think so.

I find it very moving and it helps to bring home the reality of war.

Originally Posted by Txsweeper Yes, of course, along with a picture of them. Every soldier should be a "hero", they've earned that status.

I agree with you too. *Gasp* the world's ending tomorrow, isn't it? :shock: