[caption id="attachment_4018" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Considering the sources and the tradition of the red X, good enough for me"]
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On May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden was shot and killed at a private residence in Abbottabad, Pakistan by U.S. Navy SEALs in a covert operation ordered by U.S. President Barack Obama. Shortly after his death his body was confirmed through DNA testing, identification from one of his wives, photographed, and then religious customs were honored and eventually bin Laden's body was buried at sea. The following days were a media blitz of people rejoicing for justice of the blood spilled in terror attacks world wide, people vowing retaliation for spilling the blood of bin Laden, … and those who simply wanted to see the blood. President Obama declared the photos would not be released to the public due to the graphic nature of the images as well as the possible political implications that could occur worldwide. Believe it or not, there is in fact a precedent to fall back on to perhaps either support or condemn this resolve to not show the image to the public. [caption id="attachment_4015" align="alignright" width="300" caption="In the 19th century, seeing was believing the news."]
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One, if not the main reason to not show images of bin Laden’s body is the political ramifications that the image would present. Conspiracy theory people will love to say it is cause bin Laden is still alive and walks among us, but the reality is that the current Presidential administration believes the images would symbolize a martyr the terror groups. This thought process alone shows how far we have come through both photographic technology and as people. In my opinion, and historically speaking, images of deceased figures were often made available to the public to satisfy 3 reasons. [caption id="attachment_4019" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Lenin's body was visible to the public for nearly a century before his remains could no longer be presented honorably"]
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First, to prove someone was in fact deceased. Before the age of technology you would hear things word of mouth, or read it in the newspaper, here it on the radio, but let us just remind ourselves of the vernacular, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” And in many cases showing a deceased body would be the final word on the subject or show to the people that in some cases justice has been served and some closure possibly given. Sadly this first reason is most popular due to it’s subject matter which is celebrities and other re-known figures. Photographs of a body laying in state are shown in dignified ways much like a private funeral for a public to pay respect and provide closure such as Abraham Lincoln, Babe Ruth, Elvis Presley, and Vladimir Lenin which for over a century has had his body on display in Red Square. In some cases information needs to be verified and photographic evidence exists but is not immediately available to the public but required for legal reasons. [caption id="attachment_4021" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Some were concerned over "Graphic nature" of the photos of bin Laden, however we did put out pictures of our presidents brains in the past."]
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After being sentenced to death for war crimes Hermann Goering took his own life with poison and his death needed to be archived as such given the gravity of the crimes. The gruesome murder of Sharon Tate and her unborn child by followers of Charles Manson needed to be documented for crime scene analysis, but sadly these images often do not stay under lock and key for long. Photographs are often leaked to the press and can not truly be stopped once it hits the public domain. Images from the autopsy table of JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Tupac Shakur proved breaking news stories to be true that were at one point just text on a page. Official photographs of the suicide of Kurt Cobain and overdoses of Lenny Bruce and Chris Farley also found there way from a case file into the public eye. Hardly dignified, but these kind of images are at times needed for valid reasons, however there are times when images are shown for no reason and even at times the reason for the death.
The most known images and stories of such a situation was Princess Diana as paparazzi (who are believed to have escalated a car chase causing her death) were taking images of her in a car wreck and even hindering the ability of medical personnel to aid the mortally wounded Princess. Images recently have included Michael Jackson being rushed in ambulance to a hospital, and even actor Gary Coleman unconscious and on a respirator while in the hospital which was sold by his wife (and suspect in possible murder at the time) to a newspaper.
Second, was to show the world and your enemies that you can run but you can not hide. And when it comes to ending a battle or cause another simple slogan fits to displaying the image of the deceased, “Kill the head and the body will die.” In some cases without a central figure, many eras of human history or political movements have lost the wind in their sail’s and those captured moments are in fact the epitaph. Historically we have such photographic examples available to us, and let us stray away from anything but photography. A painting of Julius Caesar being stabbed by senators is a dramatic account and hardly a accurate historic representation of the event itself. Death images such as the hanging of the Lincoln conspirators, Benito Mussolini, John Dillinger, and Jesse James became iconic photos showing the world that those who broke laws were punished and in fact deceased and justice served. Whereas today that is the reason many want to see bin Laden’s body is more demand for closure than any practical evidence that proved a death in years past. [caption id="attachment_4013" align="aligncenter" width="536" caption="Dillinger viewed in morgue in Chicago"]
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Jesse James image in a coffin was circulated throughout the American west as a warning to other outlaws, the picture spoke for itself. John Dillinger was not photoshopped onto the autopsy table to convince people he was dead, then again due to his celebrity Dillinger had impromptu public viewings of his body immediately after his death. Mussolini had an entirely different public reception after his death as his images were taken after his body was taken to the people following his execution where it was dragged through the streets, kicked, spat on, and hung upside down alongside other members of his political party for public viewing and stoning.
Third, and perhaps the most dangerous of reasons is martyrdom. A photo can instantly become a symbol and a rallying cry that motivates people and can backfire stronger than any weapon of war. In my previous blog I noted how images of warfare can wield such swift power, and that’s why bin Laden’s death image has not been released. Images were released of the body of revolutionary Che Guevara surrounded by Bolivian military after his execution to symbolize victory over the cause Guevara fought for, but in the end it just ignited his status as an icon for the revolutionary movement. In addition to the controversy over releasing the death images of bin Laden there is the burial of his remains. As per his religious beliefs U.S. military personnel performed the required rituals and rights with his burial in the timetable that is specified. As officials stated, “Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world’s most wanted terrorist would have been difficult,” which is true any grave site would become a rallying point for militant action. Finding a final resting place would be difficult, and once again history shows that it can be difficult to even keep the body there! [caption id="attachment_4016" align="alignleft" width="277" caption="No peace for Honest Abe. His remains have been moved 17 times!"]
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Grave robbing has been documented as far back as ancient Egypt when Pharaohs tomb’s were plundered for the wealth inside. But even though people donate there bodies and organs after their deaths this was not always the case and it was popular for medical students to dig up fresh graves (or those attempting to continue the works of Frankenstein) for scientific research and studies. But when it comes to the remains of popular figures the body itself is the wealth, Abraham Lincoln’s body was moved over 17 times and his coffin re-opened 6 times since his burial as result of attempted thefts and re-locations. This is not uncommon as remains of historical figures such as Evita Peron, Charlie Chaplin, Edgar Allen Poe, and even the heads, hearts, and other organs of famous people have been stolen over the years forcing the final resting places for some of histories most famous people to be left a mystery. Currently, the photographs of bin Laden are not for public eyes although many supposed images have circulated through the Internet and media outlets worldwide. Key members of the press as well as high ranking government officials in both the United States and Pakistan have been given access to the images for proof of death. One would hope we can take the news on the death of bin Laden at face value and acknowledge the demise of a terrorist who had the world in his cross-hairs. Although no images are released, and no final resting place known, the news on the death of bin Laden is as official and as powerful as any photograph would have been. [caption id="attachment_4007" align="aligncenter" width="622" caption="Not that I question sources saying bin Laden is dead, or the method of burial at sea. But does anyone else remember someone trying to destroy the world and the thought of burying him at sea was supposed to be the best solution? I hope the government thought this through case they made a 2nd and 3rd movie about this. Lets also hope this isn't where the government gets inspiration."]
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