I've taken some heat for posting this photo, and I've also received some support. You've seen what's on the thread, but I've also received some freepmail. I've explained that the satellite photos told only part of the story, and that this photo told another part. But I'll review some of the other factors that I considered.
None of the remains were significantly decomposed, burned, dismembered or significantly disfigured. Almost all of the bodies were face down. Almost all of them appeared to be adults. It could have been a lot worse.
Armed with 20/20 hindsight, I probably should have posted a warning in big, red letters and then, about 10 posts later on the same page of 50 posts, I should have posted the photo. A moderator edited the headline of the thread to provide that warning.
A photo like this is always going to be controversial. This is a horrific human tragedy. In particular, the nations of Indonesia and Sri Lanka have been devastated -- but as far away as Sweden, there are 2,500 people missing because it was a popular resort area for Europeans to take their vacations.
Now consider the relief efforts. There are literally millions of survivors in these areas, but many of them are now homeless. Stocks of food and medicine were destroyed. Water purification systems and sewage systems were damaged or otherwise compromised. The disaster relief agencies of these impoverished nations are pathetic compared with ours.
These are island nations. Even when a relief effort has successfully reached an island, the road network was never very good to begin with; and many roads and bridges were destroyed, submerged or covered with debris. Starvation and disease, particularly cholera -- which can dehydrate and kill a victim in a matter of hours -- are very real dangers.
We may be looking at just the beginning of a disaster that will rival the European plagues of the Middle Ages.
We are also looking at something the U.N. should be good at. Where exactly are they?
Let this photo be a reminder to all of what is really meant by 'debris' in all the news stories you are reading about the tsunami.
Horrible. Yes. Especially when juxtaposed with photos of happy people on the beach -- curious people at the seawall watching a big wave in the distance -- terrified people running from a HUGE wave towering over their heads. They ran but could not escape. This is what happened to them.
Now I know a tiny bit of the reality of that experience.
Thank you Bryan.