How we treat casualties in the media

I think this is one of the clear differences between Canada and the U.S. in our views on the military, and combat and I think it reverberates throughout other aspects of political culture. In the US the press is not allowed to show flag draped coffins.

Here, the status of dead and wounded soliders is daily news, we hear about it when they are killed or injured, there are interviews with their colleagues, and families, the medical status of the wounded is updated at least a few times a week, when coffins return home it's on the news and the memorial services of fallen soldiers are broadcast, in their entirity, live.

Because of all of this, I think that in Canada there is stronger support, and greater respect for the military, but more reluctance to use the military - these things are not mutually exclusive (as many on the right in the US insist they are) and Canadians (even those on the right) know this.

During the Vietnam war the photos and the caskets were shown on the newscasts and there is thought that it had a huge impact on Americans views of the war...Rummy intentional squashed any photos etc..

I agree we should have the deaths, casualties etc on the news everyday....the neocons need to get it in their heads this is not a game.....