The problem was, no one saw tapes of Hitler's atrocities and hardly anyone knew there was such a thing as a concentration camp. To most people, the "holocaust" part of WW2 came as a surprise at the end of the bloody war that pitted Nazi soldiers against soldiers from other countries.
For exactly this reason, I think the tape should be shown. We do need to know what the Muslims are doing, especially when they're doing it to an American citizen. Also, what about those of us who travel? Shouldn't we be making informed decisions about touring Muslim countries? If American tourism falls off, those Muslim governments may well feel the financial pinch and rush to do round up terrorists in their midst.
I forced myself to look at that Chechan beheading, believing that I owe myself the whole truth. If the Pearl beheading tape is show, I suggest that they edit out all the anti-American propoganda and leave in only the "I am a Jew" part and the beheading itself.
I agree ---the American people should know what we're up against, they need to know exactly what it is those mobs of Muslims in the streets are celebrating and that they mean it when they say "death to all Jews" and "death to Americans". It's horrible but it's better to know the truth sooner rather than later.
So did I, some time ago. It was a brutally horrible act ... but it is what those people do, and then video it to insure that they feed on their own cruelty and as an effort to weaken the resolve of those whom they fight ... us.
While I would not suggest it for all ... I do believe a lot more people need to realize what barbarity and cruelity we are fighting against. For this reason, I believe the Pearle video being available to those who would view it with disceation is not a bad thing.
We need to be steeled in our resolve.