TV and the Death of a Colonel

As much as I admire Calendar columnist Howard Rosenberg, he needs to rethink his position on the showing of the corpse of Lt. Col. William R. Higgins on prime-time television (“Hanging Video: What Is TV’s Role in Terror?,” Aug. 2).

Rosenberg feels this portrayal was grotesque, obscene, unnecessary and dangerous. I agree it was grotesque and obscene, as are the Shiites who perpetrated the hanging and their “justice.” As to unnecessary and dangerous, I disagree.

I ask Rosenberg to read Tom Clancy’s op-ed article, also printed in The Times on Aug. 2, in which the novelist called for a hard line in responding to terrorism.

After reading it, perhaps Rosenberg would perceive there is a need for Americans to view the cruelties of the world so we can deal with them. We need to realize there are bad people out there who want to hurt us.

When dealing with people such as the ones who killed Col. Higgins during his captivity, we Americans need to call up our freedom-loving spirit and act, not send a “message” to those who are not listening.

LYNDA GALLUP

Ventura