Nina Berman's wedding portrait of wounded Iraq vet Ty Ziegel is one of the most powerful photographs I have ever seen. It was taken during an assignment for People magazine and recently won a World Press Photo competition. The photo has generated a huge amount of discussion since its publication. I'm wondering what people here think when they see this photo. I know what the photo says to me, but I want to hold off on that for now, so as not to color other people's reaction. I've put the photo behind the spoiler tag because I don't think anyone should view it by accident. Spoiler If you want read more about Ty Ziegel, his wife, and the circumstances behind the photo, you can go here- http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/10/berman_photo/index.html
This is kind of thing that turn my stomach when people like to say "This war is totally fine, not nearly as many people are getting killed as in VIetnam", as if people getting maimed instead and surviving, due to advances in battlefield medicine) is totally fine.
War is always going to cause deaths as well as the severely injured, disfigured and disabled victims. The question here is whether that price has been worth it and necessary to be paid by the soldiers as well as the Iraqi and other civilians. In the case of the U.S. Civil War, we can say it was worth it because the very existence of the nation was at threatened due to Southerners wanting to rip it apart to maintain the evil institution of slavery. Lincoln had no choice but to go to war. In the case of World War II, we can say the price was worth it because the world and this nation was facing a grave threat from the evil Axis regimes and in fact had no choice because war was declared on the U.S. and the Axis attacked the U.S. first anyway. FDR had no choice whatsoever. But in the case of Vietnam and Iraq Wars, no such imminent threat or danger existed. Both LBJ and GWB had a choice whether to engage in these wars or not but they were totally unnecessary wars. And it pains me to see so many people die or be disfigured or injured for life for a war that didn't need to take place.
Amazing. Great photo. It says alot to me. First and foremost, though, it says that we have a hell of a lot of cleaning up to do. Politically, socially, morally, with our enemies, with our allies, and with our vets. But for the most part, we're still debating like it is March 2003 - do we go into Iraq or not? Was it a good or bad call? I am so tired of that debate. You have to look back, it is natural to judge the worth of the mission. But at this point, pure Bush bashing is as much an exercise in missing the point as Bush loving is. And it should be talked about. But now there is so much needing to be done that should transcend "thumbs up or thumbs down" on the Iraq war or Bush or Cheney, but still we seem to be stuck in the debate about Bush, about the decision to invade, etc. These guys need our best effort. The men and women and children in iraq need our best effort (does nayone mention them anymore?). This war sucked. They all suck. But I hope we can pause on indulging our own political views long enough to contribute to the rebuilding of all the things that are broken. Great photo.
Gratitude for his service, regret for his injury, happiness and hope for the life he and his wife will build together. Anything else, right or left, stay or go, failure or success, would be projecting.
i think these are the things we (i for sure) often forget about. sure the dead are remembered and get mention... but the number of maimed soldiers, and pictures like these are a stark reminder to the awfulness of war.
I guess why I am so affected by this photo is the combination of the normal and the horrible. It is bad enough to see people maimed by war on the battlefield, but at least it is not unexpected or out of place. There is something so jarring about the contrast between her wedding dress, his dress uniform, the formality of the portrait, and Ty's disfigurement. Also, this photo brings the gut wrenching consequences of the war right into our lives, into our familiar world. It not something that can just be contained "over there". On a personal level, I have a huge amount of respect for Ty's fiancee (now wife) who is sticking with him through this. I think that is rare.
Don't get me wrong,I hate the current administration as much as I hated the reagan administration,but does Ty know that his photograph is being used as an anti-war statement?was that his intention?If that wasn't his intention, then these pictures should not have been released. The link posted did not work,so I don't know the answers. I have a cousin and a best friend in Iraq,their biggest fears right now should be,Texans drafting another D-linemen,Instead it's suffering a casualty by explosives that's all i have to say about the war.
The link to the Salon article and interview with the photographer is working for me. You might want to try it again.
