War Porn

An interesting article was penned in last Sunday's Salon magazine in response to the controversial photos that have over time, leaked to the media. Photos that show our forces in theater acting in a manner that many might consider unprofessional. The author [John Rico] is a veteran of the Afghanistan campaign, and what he says is mostly correct, and a welcome addition to the national dialogue on war and how it affects our men and women.

What isn't exactly factual, is where either he or Salon write in the by-line: "All troops keep "war porn" stashes".

No. They all don't.

Whether he wrote that line or not, he does write further down: "Every single infantry soldier I know has a collection of war porn." Again, intersting notion, as I too was an Infantryman...for 22 fun filled years. If Rico includes generic, scenic photo's, pictures of the group of Hooah's and whatnot...then I would agree.

If Rico's contention is that every Infantry Soldier maintains a stash of affection for veiwing photos of dead and mangled bodies, then I couldn't disagree more. Perhaps some people are able to relieve or compartmentalize combat stress through such actions, but others see quite enough that will haunt them to their dying days....and would rather not have photographic souveniers to remind them.

Anyway, it's both a discussion that needs to be heard, and a point of view that is instrumental to understanding why it happens. Even if I don't see the value in the action.

Salon