Just for the record, if a photographer took a picture of a child molester in the act of molesting a child and did nothing to prevent it, I would be big-time upset. In this case, the photographer did take a picture of a murder about to murder someone, and I am upset. This photographer is a sicko. It takes courage to stop someone from doing evil – not watch him do it.

fliterman Says:

“On the contrary, that is exactly what denotes his courage! To *voluntarily* stand in harm’s way when one may at any time flee, indicates some modicum of bravery above that of flight.
(And there are indeed many other equally lucrative and less dangerous venues for him to ply his craft.)”

Fliterman,

How true is your definition!

Now let us compare the courage that you admire so much with the courage of the 20 yr old PFC on the other end of that sniper rifle, who is holding his fire until he sees a valid target; who would rather be in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, or his Mom’s or girlfriend’s backyard, but who volunteered to fight for his country, whether the cause be crystal clear or murky as the depths; to place his Life on the altar of Freedom at the behest of his superiors and the citizens of the United States and wait for the High Priest of Islamic fascism and the Goddess of Chance to swing the knife or the shield.

To fight the cowardly unseen enemy, even when he wants to run and hide from their brutal, murderous, and evil acts, but his Love for his shipmates and his Courage in the face of that Evil compels him to stay. He holds his position under intense fire, or through exquisite uncertainty, to draw out his unseen enemy, possibly with his own life or wellbeing as the cost.

He holds on when there is nothing left within him, except his pride in his unit, his great personal courage, and his dedication to protecting the lives of Americans everywhere for the pay only equivalent to that received by his friends back home working a full shift at McDonalds. He holds his friends in his arms as their Life ebbs away while he grieves because of his imagined hesitation or perceived failure to act, to do more than is humanly possible, to save their lives.

And all while he works 16 hours in the Iraqi sun and freezing night, among some people who hate him because he is better than they are and better than they can ever hope to be.

He is a Man who will stand up to thugs and tyrants to defend people he doesn’t even know, American and Iraqi, and be killed or wounded without their thanks or acknowledgement; to be forgotten by those who toil and play and sleep at home, completely safe in their beds from all except an “Act of God” level insurance covered event.

And he will have more raw Courage in his little finger than any journalist who faces only the tiniest threat from insurgents as long as the journalist says and does things to help their cause, or the miniscule threat from the American military because the journalist is carrying a camera and is thus a noncombatant.

Courage, indeed. I know the difference and recognize who has it.

In spades.

Subsunk

The convicted killer or child molestor are not being photographed in the act of killing an American.

“Moreover, witnessing and documenting evil does not necessarily make one, evil.”

Failing to warn the American being targeted is evil. Pure and simple. Death to an American for a Pulitzer? Some major dinero? How’s that for a novel concept eh? Piss on the families and loved ones of the American that could’ve been saved, it’s the “courage” to take the photo that counts!

I call BS Filterman. Adamantly and with full emotion. You see, I’ve watched the videos of your heroes, the muj. I’ve watched young men that I knew and loved take sniper rounds in the head. I’ve watched the responses and professionalism of my son and his squad in their reactions. Yet here you tell me the act of filming a terrorist is somehow noble and “courageous”. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see you tout our young Marines as “scared” and “firing wildy” after coming under sniper attack, even when the muj’s own snuff films disprove this and uphold the total professionalism of 20 something Marines. You sir are so ludicrous as to defy logic. What a twisted sense of morality it must take to look upon something like that and reap joy and wonderment from the sheer “courage” displayed. Bah! What a waste of good air! The definition of “courage” would be the unbelievably professional response on the OTHER end of that sniper rifle. Something I’m sure you would find as nothing.

Just who’s side are you on anyway? I’m sure I already know the answer to that one! And no, there is no compromise on this issue. Period!