Los Angeles Public Relations

Here’s the letter I sent to AP:

As the mother of a son, my heart is absolutely broken by the great injury you have caused the family of Lance Corporal Bernard. Against their wishes you’ve used the image of their poor maimed and dying child for your own political purposes, allowing it to be plastered on the front cover of American newspapers. Your cruelty and lack of compassion disgust everyone who has a family member in harm’s way. We live in fear that our children will be used as a means to an end in their darkest hour. You use law, policy, and “constitutional rights” as a sham mask for your own ends, discarding common decency.

Such a sad, embarrassing day for the AP. A dark day for the journalists and photographers that work for you.

Every American thinks: What if this was my child? How can other Americans exploit him this way?

Barbara,

I never wrote a comment on anything in the web…But I couldn’t resist….AP really did a great job….You should not think “What if this was my child? How can other Americans exploit him this way?”….I think instead it should be “It won’t be my child…AP is ensuring that there should be no more war by showing grim picture of war….yes…you are correct that other americans should not exploit you child this way….that “other Americans” really means “The government”….The government should not exploit a child like this really…and AP is trying to promote that.

Thanks

I haven’t seen the photos…nor am I interested in seeing them. I believe that ANY rational THINKING individual will know the war is HELL! So, if the parent say “NO” please be respectful…then, why not be “RESPECTFUL” to the wishes of the parents. It would appear that it really is all about the MONEY that can be made. Sorry situation, but what do these pictures have to do with beinging a hero….anyway, for what it is worth.

I agree with Barbara

I think this photo is in extreme poor taste and my heart goes out to the family. My husband fought in Viet Nam and, I can tell you, that we knew about the horrors and suffering. I believe the photo could have been shown, if the AP wanted to show the horror of war, without using any names and personalizing it. I don’t think any of us would have wanted our loved one’s death publicized in the papers. It only adds to the grief. Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard was a hero, we all know that, along with all the other heros fighting this terrible war. The photos showed no regard for his family, who have suffered such a lose and they did not need to see the details!! I know what it is to lose a son. My own son died last summer. He wasn’t in the war, but it was not a peaceful death. I know what I am going through every single day and my heart goes out to the family of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard.

If the family reads this, please know that your son was a hero and, because of the photos, we now know him by name. I’m sure your son is in heaven with our Father and is at peace. We are the ones who are suffering.

I’ll pray for you.

I would like to respond to Debal. It appears from your comment that you have not had a loved one ( son, husband, daughter, wife) go to war. I can tell you that it is terrifying!! Yes, they may die as a “hero” for their country, but to the family, they have lost someone that they loved with all their heart. Families should be proud that they died a hero and “did their duty” and America will always fight for the less fortunate. That is what we do, and we should see it, so that we can keep in mind how terrible war is, however, for the families sake, we do not need to have names associated with the telecast or the pictures.

I would have agreed with the AP publishing this photo, war is hell and the American people need to see that at times to remember. This however was a poor decision since the family specifically asked that it not be published. I’m sure there are other oppurtunities to send this message with families that would agree. My heart goes out to the family of this Marine and the AP should have respected their wishes.

I think most Americans are HYPOCRITES anyway. They have no problem showing bodies of dead Iraqis, Afghanistanians, and other countries – but when it comes to their own, Americans somehow think they deserve special treatment; HYPOCRITES!!! All life is valuable. Americans are no greater or better than anybody else; they’re only great in their own little minds. And what happen to ‘freedom of expression???’ Any other time, Americans would be defending their freedom of expression – but when it works against them, they put the constitution aside and run on some b.s. about respect and compassion. You want to talk about respect – then respect all people, of all races and nationalities. Be consistent. Not just special treatment for U.S Marines. Good job AP – good job. I support your decision to show the pictures.

Its easy for an ideologue to support the AP’s exploitation of LCPL Bernard’s death and their coarse disregard for a family in grief, but this has taken a devastating toll on the Bernard family. They feel violated. There is only one place you can hear LCPL Bernard’s Dad, who is a retired career Marine himself, explain what has been done to his loved ones:

Agree or disagree with him, he’s a straight shooter and no one can understand the position he’s in like he can. Before you go on and on about how brave and courageous Julie Jacobson and the Associated Press are, listen to what it’s like for LCPL Bernard’s family.