johnbowman.net

Right now, Newsworld has coverage of the body of Cpl. Jamie Murphy coming back to Canada from Afghanistan. He was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul this week.

The images aren’t all that interesting, but they are remarkable because this is something American television viewers will never see, at least not under the current administration. The Bush government has been enforcing rules barring the media from showing pictures of dead American soldiers coming back from Iraq.

They say the reason for the ban is to spare the relatives of the soldiers from a media frenzy, but many people have said there’s likely a political motive, too. It’s hard to win an election on a pro-war platform when there are images of caskets draped in American flags on CNN.

But whatever the motive, the disturbing thing is how easily the American media have bent to the will of the government. There’s been no court challenge, few damning editorials and all the outrage seems confined to web forums and alternative news sources.

So, while a coffin draped in a Canadian flag slowing rolling off a transport plane may not be the most compelling TV you’ll ever see, I’m glad Newsworld is covering it, if only because it starkly constrasts what’s happening down south.

The key is to get a good bounce.

(Found on Metafilter.)

You know what’s cool? Not one but two sequels to Ginger Snaps this year.

OK, which would you rather have? The full suit of metal plate armour or the full suit of Halo armour?