Letter: Reading of names was courageous
Friday, May 14, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.
ABC's "Nightline" did something beautiful and courageous with its April 30 show, which consisted of a reading of the names of each soldier who has fallen in Iraq, while his or her photograph was shown on the screen. But some ABC affiliate stations around the country were prohibited from airing the special because they're owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group.
Sinclair, in a statement, said that to honor the men and women who died in this way would be a political act "contrary to the public interest." Censoring images of the fallen serves the right-wing ideologues who pushed the war in Iraq, but it certainly doesn't serve our country to hide those who were killed.
According to ABC News, "The 'Nightline' broadcast is an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."
According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Sinclair executives gave $136,000 to Republicans and the Bush administration since 2000. It's clear that their partisan bias outweighed their responsibility to the public. Sinclair is essentially saying that any public recognition of the fallen soldiers is a political act against the war in Iraq. That trivializes the sacrifices these men and women made for us.
Honoring the dead is not a partisan act. In a news environment often focused on celebrity and pop culture, "Nightline's" willingness to take time out of its usual schedule to pay tribute to the dead was a great service.
RICHARD A. NELSON
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Live Main Event blog: Cada and Moon set to square off heads-up
- Ensign moves out of home on C Street
- Cada and Moon emerge as Main Event’s final two
- Fight snapshot: Reviewing “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto,” episode 3
- Cities, county find buying valley homes isn’t easy
- Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton
- Everclear’s Art Alexakis finds Hard Rock Cafe feels like home
- Temperature to hit 80 today in Las Vegas
- UNLV wins hoops scrimmage at Long Beach State
- Six people share their stories of what led them to jobs at CityCenter
Blogs
Sports: Upon Further Review
Fight snapshot: Pacquiao is a hit with Jimmy Kimmel, and vice versa
The Greene Room
MWC Winners and Losers: Week 10
The Kats Report
Buchanan was one of the city's truly flamboyant characters
Sports: Upon Further Review
Fight snapshot: Reviewing "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto," episode 3
The Kats Report
Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
An entire campaign in one mail piece for Harry Reid (7 Comments)
Miech Again
On the road to Long Beach, UNLV hoops style (13 Comments)
Calendar »
- 9 Mon
- 10 Tue
- 11 Wed
- 12 Thu
- 13 Fri
-
Jo Dee Messina at the House of Blues
House of Blues | 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
The Revival Tour at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Tina T at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Automatic Tour at The Square Apple
The Square Apple
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










