Just read this article about two artists, one in Texas, the other in Austin, who are fighting a Texas law just signed in by the governor which prohibits the use of the names of fallen soldiers for artistic, commercial (or otherwise) use without the soldier's family's permission. The artists are trying to get this law revoked on first amendment speech bases.
I feel that when one signs up with the US Army/Navy/Marines, you are putting yourself down on the roster of potential history makers. Once you enter a war and participate, this fact becomes even more a potential issue. You give yourself over as a public member of the US - a representative of the people of the US. Soldiers in war are part ambassador as well as protector or offensive warrior. By dying in the line of fire during a very public war (especially one which is reported on in newspapers across the globe), these soldiers instantly become a part of American History.
Second point, all history is open to everyone in the world for commentary, art, and other forms of communication and point of view work. To ask the families of fallen soldiers to give approval for their son's or daughter's names to be used is not treating them like the U.S. Soldiers they chose to be.
People may be objecting to the fact that these tshirts are being sold and profit may be made. One of the artists said he'd be donating part of the money he gets to "Children of Fallen Soldiers, a Web-based fund, and Mystical Oasis, a Texas nonprofit devoted to struggling artists." I'm not sure if that helps, but it's besides the point.
I believe that just as George Bush's very public face can be plastered on anti-war tshirts without permission and sold as 1. a political, free-speech protected right and 2. a means of profit, so should the names of the US Soldiers be used.
As one of the artists said: "I think the outrage shouldn't be focused on my drawing attention to their deaths but by the deception that caused their deaths."
Thoughts?
Orignal From: Are U.S. Soldiers sacrosanct?
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