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Ramblings from Ina Steiner, editor of AuctionBytes newsletter.

Monday, April 19, 2004

Writing on the Brain
Joseph Epstein

"I was recently asked what it takes to become a writer. Three things, I answered: first, one must cultivate incompetence at almost every other form of profitable work. This must be accompanied, second, by a haughty contempt for all the forms of work that one has established one cannot do. To these two must be joined, third, the nuttiness to believe that other people can be made to care about your opinions and views and be charmed by the way you state them. Incompetence, contempt, lunacy—once you have these in place, you are set to go."

Funny! Read the whole article at:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article.asp?aid=11704039_1
Newsday article
"Fallen GIs return unseen," by JAMES T. MADORE, April 19, 2004
http://digbig.com/4bcjg
"...for more than a year, the Bush administration has strictly enforced a ban on media outlets taking pictures of soldiers' coffins being returned to U.S. military bases on grounds that it upsets mourners. Critics say it's part of the White House's attempt to downplay the human cost of the war, which this month alone has killed at least 99 U.S. troops."

Soldiers give their lives to protect the rights and freedom of the United States of America. Our elected officials should not be taking those rights away. "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

I can't put myself in the shoes of those family members. But if I had to guess, I would say they want the world to know their loved one died fighting for this country. Michele Wittmer's family comes to mind.

But beyond that, whether you think the media should take those photos, or for that matter write about rape, murder, and other painful subjects, is not the point. The point is whether the government should dictate to the press what they can and cannot do. The first amendment to the consitution guarantees us the right to free speech.

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