the evil of censorship

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates claimed he was “outraged” that the photograph of a dying Marine in Afghanistan was published recently.
Gates denounced the Associated Press for distributing and publishing the photograph. Sadly, the AP crumpled under his criticism and withdrew the picture.
There are several problems with this scenario. First, even though they do it frequently, public officials have no right to force anyone, professional media or average citizen to not exercise their Constitutional Right of free speech. Second, the AP acted like unprofessional wusses by caving in to his threats to limit battlefield access in Afghanistan.
I have been a professional news photographer. I have always believed that pictures can tell a story in ways that words simply cannot do. I have photographed burned children, murdered nurses, murdered gangsters, horribly mangled accident victims, parents grieving over the death of a child and more. There was no joy involved in taking these photographs. But, there was satisfaction in knowing that reality had been presented and preserved.
Since the Civil War, photographs have shown us reality and preserved the humanness of both suffering and greatness. Think of the battle scenes from World War II and the Nazi death camps with thousands of dead and dying. Erasing scenes of freezing soldiers in Korea from the mind is impossible. A different kind of war in Viet Nam’s steamy jungles and swamps would never be understood without pictures. Can we ever forget the impact of the photograph of a burned and naked little girl running for her life in Viet Nam? That single photograph, perhaps more than any other, brought the stark reality of the horrors of war to the world.
But, today, America has a lesser understanding of the struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan because our Government has limited access to the battle areas and is restricting, not only what can be photographed and reported on, but shutting off transmission of “undesirable” material back to America. This is no different than what Red China did with the voices of dissenters in the days of Tiananmen Square by shutting off telephone and Internet communications.
Am I unmoved by a picture of an American serviceman who is dying from wounds? Of course not. Do I feel outrage? Yes, of course I do. I am outraged that war happens at all. Am I outraged that we are fighting in Afghanistan? No, I am saddened by the fact of life that we must be there to help protect lives and freedom from terrorist aggressors. I grieve for that Marine and his family but I would join the fight to protect the right to distribute that photograph.
That photograph of a dying Marine should serve as a catalyst for America to support, even more than we have, the war effort to stop the aggressors. His suffering and dying should be an inspiration and contribution to help us conquer evil and win the war.
Secretary Gates, you are wrong by trying to limit freedom of the press. Knowledge is America’s most powerful weapon.