Paying Respect and Attention to the Dead

Re “War Dead Brought Home in Broadcast,” May 2: I watched “Nightline” and listened carefully as Ted Koppel read the names of the dead. I looked at their faces, and I paid particular attention to their ages. I don’t know which was more tragic: the 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds or the 35- and 40-year-olds. The lost children? Or the lost parents? Obviously, all are equal tragedies. President Bush and his cronies thoughtlessly wasted all these lives. And that’s the main reason I paid attention to these names: because Bush & Co. never will.

Kurt Weldon

Winnetka

Whether you believe that the making of the “Nightline” show was politically motivated or not, I hope we can agree that the censorship of it [by the Sinclair Broadcast Group] was a political act. Is there any line corporate owners of media could step over that would invalidate their Federal Communications Commission licenses? I trust the Ministry of Truth will sort that out. Since these media are corporate and not governmental, I feel much safer about trusting them to filter what I read, hear or say. It’s so much easier not having to think for myself. All I really have to know: War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Welcome to Oceania!

Marc Sadoff

Pacific Palisades

Re “Who’s Protected in Holding Back Painful Photos?” Voices, May 1: I have an answer to Elayne Savage’s question: People like me are protected. Withholding those photos protects me from thinking of questions like: Why have young Americans, my own age, died in Iraq? What types of futures could all of those brave men and women have had? Why will none of our national leaders ever have to risk their loved ones coming back this way? Our leaders are protected from citizens hounding them with these questions.

Pierre Basmaji

San Diego