Digital War

When national, global, or local crisis occur, people want to know about it. Since the invention of newspapers, radio, television and the Internet, there are multiple ways and sources to get news and current events. News on Wars is no exception. Truth of the matter is, no one actually LIKES war, but everyone wants to know what is happening during a war. There has been much controversy as to what the media shows to the public as opposed to what is actually going on in whatever the war is taking place. Should they show graphic images, videos, articles? Should people actually know all the gruesome details through digital media?

In an article dated back in 2004, it digs into more of the image problems taken place when it comes to documenting what exactly is going on. This article includes a photo, which spread around the world, of someone about to be tortured in Iraq. The photo, though, was actually taken by a solider, rather than a journalist or any other type of media. The article goes on to ask whether or not it's right for a soldier to be able to have a camera with them, and if they do, can they have email access. It goes on to mention that several photos, just like the one posted, were sent to the New York Times, all from different cameras; all from different soldiers.

When I think of this topic, I immediately think of Kevin Sites, who presented to us a video and photos of what he captured during several different wars he witnessed throughout the course of a year. While war is not exactly a fun issue, I personally believe that we should have access to these images, videos, etc. through digital media. Would this create conflict, and possibly a "war" over the Internet? Possibly. But if we can have access to limitless amounts of information, why can't we know exactly what is happening on war grounds?

I think of people who have husbands, wives, sons, daughters, or any other family or relatives off fighting in some battle or war. Shouldn't they have the right to know what they are facing? Absolutely. This would indubitably create more fear into ones life, but if they wish to read, see, or hear about these gruesome details, they should have that option. While not all sources on the Internet may be credible or reliable, people should have that option to see it if they wish.