Show National view News flash from the Land of Make-Believ-e The Philadelphia inquirer M Fantasy people and stories and worlds When much is broken make-beliecan help salve the wounds v Sunday night in Los Angeles a rs bunch of professional got together and had some fun at the 75th annual Academy Awards It was to be sure an awkward affair a show muted by war thoughts and advertisers who pulled out fraidy-c- at at the last moment But it mostly managed to sidestep the ugliness in a needed respite from the grim clash in Iraq Everyone at the Kodak Theatre and many watch- ake-belie- ve Made-u- p ve make-believe- ing at home were aware of the news stories of dead wounded and captured Yet it was good to see Steve Martin poke fun at himself at the heightened security and at Hollywood (“I didn’t host the show last year because I was — how do you say it? — not asked”) It was somehow reassuring to see Jack Nicholson grinning wolfishly in his indoor In an uneasy time who can blame us if aware of the world we take respite from the world? The Academy Awards reminded us that while it's no replacement for reality make-beliecan be a blessed escape ' ve Your view By Cokte Roberts disagreement about democracy To the editor: As a frequent visitor to Cache Valley I must respectfully disagree with the comments of Bland Richardson on March 20 I commend Mr Richardson for his courage in sharing his opinions on a very controversial and emotional subject Hopefully by the time this reaches print the war will have ended and the subject will be moot ' His suggestion however that Mr Box engaged in propaganda is unfounded Mr Box simply reported on his experiences as a war protester hardly qualifying as a propagandist He is correct however that “millions of people do not represent a majority” If we were a majority rule society A1 Gore would occupy die White House today We are instead a nation of laws' with a Constitution that protects and defends minority opinion It was such law that for better or for worse properly made'Mr Bush our president His assertion that “news reports arc no way to evaluate the circumstances surrounding Iraq” is puzzling Other than talk radio or the Internet both of which simply reflect the biased opinion of the host how else is one able to remain abreast of woi Id events? The unkindcst cut however is the vci led accusation that those of us who oppose this war somehow give ' aid and comfort to the enemy Many of us have fought in other wars Most of us have loved ones already engaged in the conflict While we may speak out in anger that they have been placed in harm’s way we still love and support them for doing their duty and we pray for their safe and early return To he a patriot requires putting our country ahead of politicians or ideology When we perceive correctly or incorrectly that our nation is in the process of self destruction we have the moral obligation to speak out So now conies the suggestion that if we can’t support the war we ' should keep our mouths shut Tyrants and despots throughout history have made the same demand Despicable regimes can only survive in the absence of dissent Does such stifling of public opinion truly represent the ideals for which thousands of American soldiers have fought and died? Finally it is atniism that through our vote or non-volethargy or apathy acquiescence or ignorance or te our pursuit of a political agenda a Democratic society gets the kind of government it deserves Many of those now protesting this war had die opportunity to prevent it in 2002 AB Kent Clifton Colo stage cast did their best Hey To the editor: I am still humming the songs from the production of “Les Miserables” as I go about my day I saw two of the performances and was very impressed with the wonderful enjoyable experience I had What was my disappointment to see in the newspaper a very critical review about the musical I am disappointed and embarrassed for the newspaper I heard no one mention that the production was anything other than high school students volunteering to do their best Had they been professionals had this been “Broadway" then a “review” would have been die order of the day My son was part of this wonderful experience although he did hot have a major role However because of his participation I know of the countless hours these young people spent in practices with no thought of any reward In fact they actually contributed monetarily Add to that the time commitment of the directors consultants and the orchestra (which did an excellent job) those who helped in costuming and all the people The turntable was an excellent means to change the semes — the lighting and the way the changes were done so smoothly was most impressive to me I have not been to London or New York but I was able to have a real treat hone in Logan Utah With all the trouble at home and abroad what we need is positive interaction with our young people who are the upcoming leaders of our town and nation I think negativism and criticism are very unproductive Let’s give our young people the encouragementthey need and deserve a pat on the back and the done” don’t cost words “a job-wel- l beautiful What singing anything voices and talent were displayed dur- ing this production! I salute you all! behind-the-scen- es Amy Derr Logan V Some eventually showed stills or short dips Most declined to broadcast the most gruesome footage All wrestled with their decisions knowing they will face other difficult Roberts Newspaper Enterprise Association A i the Iraqi i forward what should the viewing public see on TV? Our answer as much as possible within die limits of good taste i ational security and respect for I families of any casualties American citizens are paying for this war with their taxes and their children They have a right — and an obligation — to see die conflict in all its nasty brutality “This is a war for truth” insists Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whit- man “The god is to have accurate truthful reporting from the battle- field” We agree But that means the bad news along with the good the victims as well as die victories As ABC’s TM Koppel put it “I fed we do have an obligation to remind people in the most graphic way that war is a dreadful thing Young Americans are dying Young Iraqis are dying To sanitize it too much is a dreadful mistake” This question comes up now because Iraqi forces amhished an American convoy killing some soldiers and capturing others Videotape of the victims was shot by Iraqi tele- vision and given to A1 Jazeera the Arab network based in Qatar which then made it available worldwide The Penfegon urged American networks to withhold die tape at least until relatives of the casualties could be notified and most complied choices in foie days ahead And there are some lessons to be learned that could prove useful to news organizations as the pace of war accelerates First in this era of global realtime media there is no way for the American military to control what TV viewers see across die world or here at home One implication: the Pentagon must speed up procedures for notifying the families of casualties A1 Jazeera is available in millions of households throughout the Arabicspeaking world and has even started Web site The an mother of one American captive learned of her son’s fate on a Filipino channel available by satellite in her Jfcw Mexico home The father of another prisoner saw his daughter on Tfrlcqiunrio die popular channel With a few mouse clicks we were able to view images cm the Internet that American networks declined to broadcast One Web rite The Drudge Report explained its decision to display die material by arguing that if “anchormen and others in die media” have seen the pictures “why can’t die average citizen?" Fair ques- tion Second even if visual images are widely available on other outlets and there are no legal limits on press freedom the American media still have an enormous responsibility to use their editorial power wisely When it comes to casualties blurring the faces of recognizable individuals is a reasonable compromise Waitfog a short time for families to be notified is another Not showing English-langua- i : 1 ge Spamsh-lan-gua- ge : the most grisly images in the middle of the afternoon when small chil-dren might be watching TV unsupervised alro makes sense But censorship definitely does not Third me militanr will always try to shape the tone of news reports and media outlets always have to be aware of that pressure and resist v bring manipulated The Pentagon was delighted when American TV showed footage of Iraqi prisoners because those images couia have the effect of demoralizing enemy forces But suddenly when it was American prisoners on display the military tuned squeamish hose pictures could have the opposite effect emboldening Iraqi resistance and softening American support for the war effort In fact the episode points up a larger question of White House inconsistency even hypocrisy During the Afghan campaign the presi- dent refused to grant POWstatut under the Geneva Convention to enemy fighters seized on the battlefield saying they were not part of a regular army We worried at die time that the Administration was setting a bad precedent and now when the United States wants the protection of international law for its own prisoners it has lost a measure of moral authority In the end consistency is a good guideline for journalists as well as presidents We agree with John Car-ro- ll editor of the Los Angeles Times: “We’ve run pictures of prisoners taken by both sides It’s a war and we’re supposed to cover the whole tiling not just part of it" Americans deserve to see the whole thing not just die good ports That’s the only way they can fairly judge their leaders who decided this war was necessary Rumsfeld right but in the wrong F Le Monde (Parte) acing a prisoner of war a journalist worthy of the title has one sim-pie rule to respect: no interview Never There are only a few questions to ask a man or woman fallen into enemy hands state of health last name first name eventually identification of his unit and address of his As stipulated in family That’s all the Geneva Convention on the rights of war one must protect these prisoners against “public curiosity” The American Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was very right to protest the images broadcast Sunday March 23 by foe Qatari television station They showed American prisoners of war already in a state of shock — some wounded — and summoned to speak by a “journalist” about their presence in Iraq One knows too well these types of scenes They have less to do with journalism than with political manipulation and propaganAl-Jaze- da " But the Defense Secretary would be better placed to defend the Geneva Convention if he applied them himself He does not Mr Rumsfeld was one of the first of American leaders who refused — and still refuses — to accord die prisoner of war status to the hundreds of people captured during the campaign in Afghanistan Washington should fight for the preservation of these laws instead of like today participating in their weakening The Herald Journal NMINGTWE Lettersjpolicy The Hsnld Journal wstomos Man to flis IMous or offonsiva Man wl not bo puMahod however and tie odior neervos tie right to adt al Man to contain to tw langth and stylo raqubamanls of odNor FolonSaty No£T cf TpE Tha Opinion papa to MmkM to acquaint vanaiy or vwwpora on ranni of pubic importance and provtds msmban of twoommunllywto a forum for Mr views Pononal columns cartoons and Man ftom i isnaci aw opavona oi aw wmsn ana Edtoriais under the hsodbigiOur a J or neon journal rmMreravwws 1 nlltia aitHnilalhnawi Mannais Doanx 4TQM mows wn i ra acmi W ohK conchsms at mm to Stgatftertd out f multitude M Idp-Mort- of tongues (for tfmrfi any (yiiofautfontotwt ONDYYUKTHAsaiurassdtor ' BRUCE SMmVpuMahar CHARLES MoCOLLUMAnanagingodHor selection — Judgt Lttned to Lagan should bo: Typewritten and doublespaoed No mon Mi 450 wonts In length Addressed and indudsdaytimi phono number for purposes of varttcadon ! 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