Taboo (Abu Ghraib images are one thing. But 9/11? Off limits)

National Review ^ | July 14, 2004 | Byron York

[presidio9]

On Saturday, September 15, 2001, just four days after the terrorist attacks, ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings hosted a special program entitled "Answering Kids' Questions." Exploring the effect of the attacks on children, Jennings and a Yale psychiatrist discussed whether young people should see the much-played video of airliners crashing into the World Trade Center. The answer was no. "I mean, some of us have kids, too," Jennings said. "And we remember from the past that if you run these images over and over and over again, it is tough."

That was the beginning of a new policy at ABC News: No more use of the planes-into-towers video. "We actually talked to a number of psychologists, who told us that kids seeing this over and over were unable to distinguish that this was something that was [not] happening again and again and again," says ABC News vice president Jeffrey Schneider. Because of that possible effect on children, Schneider continues, the network decided to use only still pictures to tell the September 11 story.

ABC is not alone. Indeed, across the network- and cable-news spectrum, there is a virtual blackout of the video of the actual terrorist attacks of 9/11. Network executives say they have made the decision on the basis of taste, or respect for those killed, or concern for children, or other reasons, but the end result is that at a time when there is a continuing and passionate debate about the direction of the War on Terror, there is little, if any, graphic representation of what started that war in the first place.

[presidio9]

[kb2614]

Showing images of 9/11 could possibly boost President Bush's re-election bid. ABCCBSNBCPBS can't have that. People might thing this terroism stuff is for real.

[sheik yerbouty]

Network executives have become jihadist enablers.

[Alouette]

I have a copy of the issue of Newsweek published the week after 9/11. In addition to carrying an article about the "persecution" of U.S. Muslims, they showed a cartoon of a little girl asking her daddy, as they watch the planes crash into the towers, "Are we going to hate them back?"

[Badeye]

I've purchased several related DVD's about 9/11.

The best is the independent film makers who were following two recruits for their first year as NYFD rookies.

[atomicpossum]

We need a conservative 527 to run TV ads that are nothing but clips from September 11. No commentary, no endorsement of a candidate, nothing but a message at the end saying 'We wanted to remind you what it's still all about.'

The Dems can't complain that it's a commercial for Bush. How could they make that case?

[Diogenesis]

Ashwari-Jennings and Murderer Arafat:
"In our opinion, the best reporter in America is
Peter Jennings. More important than going to college, he KNOWS US.
And, like ABC, he is always reasonably willing to leak America's weaknesses
while censoring our decades-long slaughters of your people."

---

[backinthefold]

--The best is the independent film makers who were following two recruits for their first year as NYFD rookies. --

I remember seeing that on TV when it aired, what 3-4 months later. It was brilliant, and so chilling. I thought I couldnt cry again over that day, but I did.

I am insulted and angry that the footage is not shown at all, anywhere now. I am sure that there are people who lost loved ones and cant bear to see it, but its like a distant blip on somes radar range. That is a sin. We must never forget!!

[presidio9]

"We'll be back with more on the murder of Uday and Qusay Hussein after these messages." - Peter Jennings, July 22, 2003

[Rummyfan]

Is that DVD in wide release? What is the title please?

[expatguy]

The best is the independent film makers who were following two recruits for their first year as NYFD rookies

Im looking for this and can't find it. Im overseas so I would need to download it. Do you know the name of it or where I could download it?

[Diogenesis]

[gathersnomoss]

Panty sniffing prisoners get top billing while our citizens being murdered will not be shown. NEVER FORGET!!!

[Tall_Texan]

We need a conservative 527 to run TV ads that are nothing but clips from September 11. No commentary, no endorsement of a candidate, nothing but a message at the end saying 'We wanted to remind you what it's still all about.' The Dems can't complain that it's a commercial for Bush. How could they make that case?

Yes, I agree. In fact, I'd like to see a concept where we at FR put together a media campaign sinply titled "Why We Fight" that will not say anything about Democrat/Republican or Bush/Kerry.

Simply images of 9-11, U.S.S. Cole, Khobar Towers, The bombings in Madrid, etc.

I think it makes a powerful statement and might even get around CFR since it doesn't advocate any candidate or party.

We just need to raise the money and find a few skilled producers. It could be done if we decided to do it.

[tdadams]

I've seen that picture half a dozen times before, but not until now did I notice that it shows a missle in flight. That's awesome.

[Badeye]

"Im looking for this and can't find it. Im overseas so I would need to download it. Do you know the name of it or where I could download it?"

I'm having a bit of a "brain cramp" on the title, but it was by two young french documentary types. Don't be "put off" by the fact they were French. Both almost died at the WTC on 9/11. These are the guys that caught the first plane hitting the WTC while video taping a NYFD run to a gas leak just down the street when it first began that day.

The footage, especially inside the Tower lobby is surreal, haunting video. In that background you hear "CRASH!" over and over, as the sound of those that jumped hit the glass roof of the attrium.

I'll make it a point to get the title, I found this video, which ran on NBC I believe, via Amazon.com. I'll bump this thread tomorrow morning (I'm in the Eastern Time Zone stateside) with the details.

Its the best 9/11 DVD available in my opinion.