This was the top story on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution web site as of a few minutes ago. It’s bad enough that this is a vapid photo that teaches readers nothing about the conflict in Iraq, but the incompetence demonstrated by the editor’s timing in publishing that photo with that headline at all is staggering, considering what’s going on half a world away. Marines are still digging up dead bodies from the mud slide in the Philippines, for Christ’s sake! The first impression I got when I saw the headline (before reading the caption) was that marines were joyfully rubbing the mud that was covering dead bodies on their faces. Someone at the AJC should be fired over this.
You know, mind-stunning insensitivity aside, that photo is just ripe and ready for a FARK Photoshop thread … wonder if my account still works?
Well, judging from the fact that I had to read your post before I made the reaching connection to the Phillipine mudslide leads me to believe there may not be that many other people that are offended by it.
As a matter of fact, before I read the post and was trying to figure out what was supposed to be wrong with it, I thought it was the fact that a black soldier was the one falling in with the caption of “GI Mud Facials” that was being called on for being insensitive. I kinda think that makes more sense.
I thought it was about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Rusty, I am concerned man there seems to be a lot of anger. First you want impeachment and now someone fired. I am sorry but I agree with Barry, I had to read the article, and then the photograph, and I still didn’t make the connection till I went through it all like twice.
I don’t think this is such a big deal (the picture I mean).
As for the Phillipine mudslides, there are no words that can truly make sense of the pictures that I am seeing coming from the Phillipines. It is one of the most devastating natural disasters in our lifetime.
I think the only stupid thing here was the headline…it did make me do a double take but once I read the caption I saw it was in Iraq and not the Phillipines. I just think someone should be fired for qualifying this as news at all. Well unless tomorrow’s headline is “Mud wallowing GIs ambushed and killed in Iraq”.
Jeffrey,
Yes, I am angry. It makes me angry that these photos are considered newsworthy to begin with because media outlets like the AJC are afraid to be seen as anything less than flag-waving jingos. And it makes me angry that the president of the United States continues to break the law, and that very few people seem to care.
But seriously, though. I agree with Rusty. I meant to say that in the original post.
I also agree with his response above.
Further, I agree that Rusty is an angry man. However, this is negated by the fact that I agree with and endorse his anger.
Now here’s Lush with the weather.
Jeffrey,
I don’t understand how this can not bother you. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional on the AJC’s part, but it’s just in very poor taste considering the timing. A major “oops” moment. They should’ve taken it down as soon as someone was like, “Um, guys…” (which, in a news organization, I find it hard to imagine no one knew about the mudslides in the Phillipines.)
Also, why are GIs jumping in mud newsworthy? Slow news days…?
But isn’t “Angry Rusty” much more fun then “Too busy with work to post Rusty”?
Why is it newsworthy? It’s called “Human Interest” and newspapers have been doing those kinds of stories since Ooog and Gugg started planting a new garden outside their cave.
The thing is, it’s only in poor taste and only has bad timing if there’s some kind of obvious relation to another event. This hardly has any relevance to anything but our soldiers blowing off some stress. Should they have refrained from jumping in the mud out of respect for those caught in the mudslides? Should my kids kneel in silent meditation before stepping in a mud puddle? Should politicians impose a 7-day moratorium on mud-slinging?
And another thing. “media outlets like the AJC are afraid to be seen as anything less than flag-waving jingos.” If you think this photo validates that point, you’ve got a really skewed view of what comprises “jingoism”.
Barry,
Human interest? That’s fine for the inside of the paper, but not for the front page. Are you telling me NOTHING more important than soldiers frolicking in the mud happened today?
Re:
I don’t really care whether troops or your kids or whoever jumps in the mud. What I care about is that out of all the motifs the newspaper chose for a fluff photo shoot, they chose mud not two days after a bunch of people were killed by a mud slide. My opinion is it was in terrible taste. You can disagree, but you’re wrong.
When I read “mud facial,” my mind immediately went to a scary, fetishistic place.
I agree, it’s a stupid article/caption. Par for the course, though, for the AJC’s war coverage.
You can disagree, but you’re wrong.
How about leaving it at you can disagree. See Rusty, everyone here thinks I am the one pushing my opinion, but statements like the one above show that it isn’t me. Just stop at you can disagree.
I can promise you one thing niether one of us is right or wrong, and I don’t care how much more than me or anyone else you think you know.
Dude, it’s my blog. The purpose of it is to express my opinions, some of which may be to tell people when I think they are wrong.