THE HERETIK ON: Black and White Truths

PreTrik Credit to: [Photo: Karim Kadim / AP]

AND THE HERETIK POINTS OUT:  Pictures so rarely lie.  Unframed truth cuts to the bone of a bloodless corpse of lies.  The war in Iraq is not about freedom on the march.  The war in Iraq is not about a cynical, miguided attempt to impose our will on a people and region unwilling to accept yet another white master in a world of many colors. The war in Iraq is not a war for control of oil today in a world that faces desperate nightmares tonight about energy needs tomorrow.  No, the war in Iraq is not any of those one things.  It is all those things and less.

The war in Iraq is about the death of children, the death of hope, and the bitterness engendered in a parent's sinking heart in that sad sea of cynicism.  The war in Iraq is about false pride for the hubristic victor and pride of a people who would better find their own victories in their own country in their own time

The war in Iraq is about a clock whose hands no one may stop.  The clock has stopped ticking for so many children in Iraq.  Who among us realizes it is midnight for us all?

The recent Pulitzer prize winning photographs of the War on Iraq have stirred considerable controversy for those who do not recognize their truth. Slate yesterday had this to say:

On Monday, the Associated Press won a Pulitzer for its photojournalism in Iraq (Read about other Pulitzer winners here; see award-winning photos here.) Right-wing diva Michelle Malkin rounds up longstanding blogosphere criticism of a photo that shows insurgents killing Iraqi election workers.

"So the terrorists wanted to be photographed carrying out the murder, to sow more terror in Iraq and to demoralize American voters. That's why they tipped off the photographer, and that's why they dragged the two election workers from their car, so they could be shot in front of the AP's obliging camera," explains rightist stalwart Power Line. "The photographer is an accessory to murder. And the Associated Press and Pulitzer jury are bereft of common decency," writes Depleted Uranium, the blog of a British entrepreneur.

Conservative The Jawa Report enumerates: "5 of the 20 photos were taken by journalists who were working with terrorist forces. 11 of the 20 photos would likely cause anti-American inflamation. Only two show Americans in a positive light. Three more show the victims of terrorism." "God forbid the Pulitzers Prize people give an award to a photographer who show American Warriors in a positive light," writesWarriorsvoice. Liberal Greatscat commends the photographers and calls their work "stunning." Marine blog

Read more about the photographs here.

AND THE HERETIK WROTE A LETTER TO SLATE IN RESPONSE THAT SAID :

On the day after John Cornyn on the floor of the United States Senate suggest judges somehow  "bring on" the violence and murder visited upon them, in a year when Ann "Would That It Were So" Coulter suggests the shooting of reporters is to be commended, in a new century when the news and media are manipulated more than ever by those in power, (Shock and Awful, Mission Not Accomplished, The Heretik finds it astounding that the coverage of the war in Iraq by the Pulitzer prize winning photographers is  portrayed in a negative light.

Reality and truth are most harsh lights. What is going on in Iraq is not a light romp in a bed of spring flowers viewed through misty eyes and rose colored glasses.  Among the most moving photos I saw in the group was taken of a group of American soldiers praying in a group over a fallen compatriot.  Even the most godless person could not feel some words on lips asking for some kindness from above and no further curse in this sorry war from below. 

Most unfortunately we are moving more and more toward a moral wasteland where only one view is permitted, where dissent is not.  Our country and our children deserve a far more generous spirit than that.

The Heretik now adds: And the children of Iraq do as well.

Comments

[Roxanne]

That's a great letter. Let me know if they print it.

[KathyF]

(Scratch scratch) I hate it when my anti-American inflamation flames up.

Great post.

[des]

When the children of Iraq are dying now under American occupation at higher rates than they did under the rule of Saddam -- someone should have the common sense to stop and take a hard look at their objectives. There should be honest answers to questions of just how large the insurgency is, and whether or not our presence is now hindrance or help. These conclusions can't be made by any politician sitting behind his safe desk in Washington. That Saddam should be acceptable under one republican's watch, and then decades later unacceptable under another is . . . unacceptable. I know, 9/11 -- and they have dark skin. Dear God in heaven, what has our nation become?

[BadTux]

Remember, truth is anti-American in Bushevik America.

Blessed be the truthtellers, for they shall be shot down by bullets in the streets and hounded whenever they dare tell the truth in the light of day, and congratulations to the Pulitzer board (which included the editor of the very conservative Washington Times) for refusing to cave to that pressure.

- Badtux the Truth-telling Penguin

[The Heretik Just Peed His Pants]

Bushevik America? Now I'm going to have to change my pants before I can be serious again. Tux, you are a very bad Penguin.

[Idyllopus]

Then there are those who look at the pics of dead children and their tingly spinal column response is, "Yeah, well, in a few years he/she'd have been one of 'them'. That's one less. Cheers."

[des]

Then there are those who look at the pics of dead children and their tingly spinal column response is, "Yeah, well, in a few years he/she'd have been one of 'them'. That's one less. Cheers."

If that's the thought, then *why* do we have troops there dying? Why? Damn circular nonlogic!

[Kate S.]

I had to rachtet up my respect for the Pulizter Committee ever since I was introduced to the Maus series by Spiegelman -- and the fact that they created a special category for his use of comic book media to tell the story of the holocaust -- so they could award him the 1992 prize.

Thank you for helping to direct attention to AP's photojournalism award. Maybe LIFE mag will do a special. Or was it LOOK that was resurrected? I can't remember.