Losing your job over a photograph

Thanks to Michael at eclecticism for posting this photo and linking to the article in the Seattle Times. It didn't occur to me until I saw it that I have not seen a single coffin since the war began. And that little meter on the right side of my blog now says there are over 700 American deaths in Iraq. Suddenly that number is a lot more real to me. It also didn't occur to me that the U.S. has prohibited the media from taking pictures of any coffins.

Grrrr.

Okay, to start with, these servicemen and women deserve our highest honor and respect. IF the government's purpose in forbidding photographs is to honor our fallen sons and daughters, I can respect that. And I would expect the media to abide by those rules.

However, IF our government's purpose in forbidding these pictures is to keep a pretty face on this war. . . IF the priority is to keep the American public from getting too "upset" over how many soldiers are dying in this war. . . and thereby enabling us to STAY in this war as long as our government wants us to.

Well, then that would piss me off.

I happen to think this photo is a moving tribute to the terrible sacrifice of these men and women. I do not think it disrespects them in any way. And I think more people need to look at it.

Now . . .

About photographs. And weblogs. And losing jobs. Michael, whom I mentioned earlier, was fired from his job at Microsoft when he posted a photo on his weblog showing a bunch of Apple G5 computers arriving on a truck at Microsoft headquarters (pretty funny). And Tami Silicio, the woman who took the photo above, was fired from her job when said photo was published in the Seattle Times.

Do I have something in common with them? Have I, too, lost my job over photographs? I heard through the grapevine this week that the reason I have not been rehired was because of the wedding photos of Corey and I that are posted on this website. If there is truth to this rumor, then I am shocked and disappointed. Discrimination like this in the San Francisco Bay Area? I don't want to believe it. But in the absence of any solid reasons for my contract not being renewed, I'm forced to acknowledge the possibility that this may be true. I may have been let go because I am gay.

Posted: Sun - April 25, 2004 at 04:15 AM

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Losing your job over a photograph

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