Don't tell the people, they don't want to know
posted by Vynce at 10:26 PM

Once again the Bush League would like to shelter its poor, innocent voters from the harsh light of the big bad world -- presumably to keep them from realizing just how much has gone wrong. If they worry too much, they might wonder why it happened (and we all know Bush & crew don't want to play the blame game). So, just like before, they have "asked" journalists not to show the dead.

Now, the article mentions that FEMA refused to let the journalists tag along on FEMA boats, and frankly, I'm not surprised and not outraged at that. FEMA has a lot to do, a lot of pressure over perceived ineptitude, and I wouldn't want a journalist watching me freak out and screw up, either. But to not show pictures taken in the normal course of reporting a tragedy? Dig behind that and you'll find either sinister intent, or some muddled thinking.

Here's some:

Nobody wants to wake up in the morning and see their dead uncle on the front page. That's just common decency. -- Mark Tapscott

Well, Mr. Tapscott, that's true ... to a point. But assuming my uncle is dead, and supposing I have no other way of knowing, then yes, actually, I kinda do. Think I'm weird? Then why do so many people's pictures appear with their obituaries?

And especially if my uncle is dead, in part, due to the incompetence and negligence of a government spinning out of control in a fantasy of dynastic glory -- because if that's the case, I want the world to know why my uncle is dead, and I want the mistake makers to answer for their failures. Better that than a silent death swept under a carpet.

Incidentally, Uncles Dale, Gary, Hank, John, Nick, and Silas -- I hope you are all alive and well. I'd hate to see you on the front page.