Time‘s Rick Stengel Explains Reasoning Behind Bold Cover Image

by Meenal Vamburkar | 12:05 pm, July 29th, 2010

» 31 comments

This week’s Time magazine cover might startle you. It might make you a bit uncomfortable. And that’s exactly what Rick Stengel, the magazine’s managing editor, intended. The cover image shows 18-year-old Aisha, an Afghan woman who, after leaving her abusive in-laws, had her nose and ears cut off by the Taliban. The story’s headline reads: What Happens If We Leave Afghanistan.

Stengel wrote an accompanying letter explaining the decision behind the cover image and story about “how Afghan women have embraced the freedoms that have come from the defeat of the Taliban — and how they fear a Taliban revival”:

I thought long and hard about whether to put this image on the cover of TIME. First, I wanted to make sure of Aisha’s safety and that she understood what it would mean to be on the cover. She knows that she will become a symbol of the price Afghan women have had to pay for the repressive ideology of the Taliban.

Additionally, Stengel writes that he is aware that children will see the image, and had consulted with child psychologists to discuss the potential impact. He apologized to readers who find the image “too strong.” But Stengel is firmly supportive of the image and explains why he feels it is important:

But bad things do happen to people, and it is part of our job to confront and explain them. In the end, I felt that the image is a window into the reality of what is happening — and what can happen — in a war that affects and involves all of us. I would rather confront readers with the Taliban’s treatment of women than ignore it. I would rather people know that reality as they make up their minds about what the U.S. and its allies should do in Afghanistan.

[emphasis ours]

This reasoning follows what many might agree is the definition and purpose of good journalism. The things that are hard to look at are often the things that are most necessary to look at. Whether readers think the cover is bold or too graphic, the shock value cannot be denied. Without diminishing the value of telling a difficult story about a seemingly endless war, it’s hard not to wonder how the shock value will translate in terms of newsstand sales.

Thomas J – Libertarian

This is truly sad. Women in many of these extreme Islamic countries live as second class citizens, not much different than how blacks were treated during apartheid in South Africa. A good example of the oppressive conditions is to look at Saudi Arabia. Women there have no rights…none what so ever. They are basically property of their fathers and husbands. Yet the west sees no real problem with this. Where are the calls for ending such apartheid from the UN, EU and USA?

The fact is, is that since the oppressors are non-white, no one cares. It’s sad. We have one President holding hands with King Saud, and the other breaking his back to bow to this dictator. Additionally, supposed universities that breach about tolerance and diversity, such as Harvard, have no problem taking millions of dollars from these oppressors.
SoCalGal1

Insecure, misogynist, sexually confused men hide behind religion in order to control women. Disgusting animals
Thomas J – Libertarian

SoCalGal1 said:
Insecure, misogynist, sexually confused men hide behind religion in order to control women. Disgusting animals

What we need to do is set an example. We need to treat Saudi Arabia, which does not believe in womens rights…none what-so-ever, as we did with South Africa during apartheid.
Thomas J – Libertarian

What’s amazing is that no one seems to really care about this post/ article by Meenal. This, at least to me, is considerably more important and serious when compared to Obama going on some no talent show called “The View.”
Azarkhan

It’s about time a leftist publication told the truth. That is exactly the question that everyone who wants the US to leave Afghanistan has to answer. Then see if you can live with it.
Phocus2

The lack of ‘splash’ for this cover points out the diminished impact of Time Magazine. As for the subject, where is the outrage for the abuse women get from the religion of peace. The political correctness…read hypocrisy that drips from liberals is sickening.
ortom

From the article: “This didn’t happen 10 years ago, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.”

So, this is NOT “What Happens If We Leave Afghanistan.” This is what happens when we are IN Afghanistan.
Haimerej

I just came from the comments on the Ron Ramsey article. Interesting to see people’s reactions to that followed by this.

I’ll go ahead and say it- Islam is dangerous. If you are going to take the Koran at it’s word, you’re going to end up like Osama bin Laden. There is no comparison between Jesus and Muhammad. Jesus preached a heavenly kingdom. Muhammad was a conquorer on earth. Jesus said “turn the other cheek” and “do good to those who persecute you.” Muhammad beheaded his enemies.

A fundamentalist Christian would be someone who spreads the gospel as Jesus commanded, “dusting off their feet” and leaving when it’s rejected. A fundamentalist Muslim would be someone who spreads Islam with the sword when the words failed.
timzank

ortom said:
From the article: “This didn’t happen 10 years ago, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.” So, this is NOT “What Happens If We Leave Afghanistan.” This is what happens when we are IN Afghanistan.

So your theory is, if we leave they’ll suddenly jump out of the 9th century and stop butchering women?
timzank

If we’d just let them build a few more mosques……
Thomas J – Libertarian

ortom said:
From the article: “This didn’t happen 10 years ago, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.”

So, this is NOT “What Happens If We Leave Afghanistan.” This is what happens when we are IN Afghanistan.

Are you serious? This type of crap happens all the time in these Islamic extremist countries. The article even says the Taliban did it – not some secular US baked warlord. The fact is the world community doesn’t give a rats-ass about women in these countries. They live a slave/ oppressive life, similar to apartheid but we hear not one peep out of the left. Hell, Harvard was more than happy to take millions of dollars from the Saudi royal family for some Islamic center on campus. Women rights be damned.
Cecelia

As someone who is unsure about the sustainability of a continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan, this picture fills me with an unbearable sadness and bemusement.
Thomas J – Libertarian

Cecelia said:
As someone who is unsure about the sustainability of a continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan, this picture fills me with an unbearable sadness and bemusement.

You are 100% right. That is why the UN, EU and USA need to stake a stand, like we did with apartheid, against countries that give no rights to women, and treat them like slaves.
Averreauxii

Haimerej said:
I just came from the comments on the Ron Ramsey article. Interesting to see people’s reactions to that followed by this.

I’ll go ahead and say it- Islam is dangerous. If you are going to take the Koran at it’s word, you’re going to end up like Osama bin Laden. There is no comparison between Jesus and Muhammad. Jesus preached a heavenly kingdom. Muhammad was a conquorer on earth. Jesus said “turn the other cheek” and “do good to those who persecute you.” Muhammad beheaded his enemies.

A fundamentalist Christian would be someone who spreads the gospel as Jesus commanded, “dusting off their feet” and leaving when it’s rejected. A fundamentalist Muslim would be someone who spreads Islam with the sword when the words failed.

Wow…dude, you are an idiot. Please post excerpts from the Quran that says killing of innocents is ok like you infer? It doesn’t. BTW, Jesus did WHIP people too in the Bible so don’t present half-truths. ;)

Just because the fundamentalists and Wahabis distort and misinterpret the Quran for their own nefarious reasons doesn’t mean that all followers of Islam are radicals. This is the problem with the west….particularly Christian zealots. Stereotyping an entire religion. The longer it takes the west to discern this, the harder the outreach to Muslims will be and the longer the conflict will persist.
Haimerej

Book of Al-Maeda:33 Those who wage war against God and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land should be punished by death, crucifixion, the amputation of an alternate hand and foot or banishment from the land: a disgrace for them in this world, and then a terrible punishment in the Hereafter, 34 unless they repent before you overpower them: in that case bear in mind that God is forgiving and merciful.

Book of Muhammad, verse 4 (47:4)Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers, strike off their heads; at length; then when you have made wide Slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives”: thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.”

Book of Al-Tawba, verse 123 (9:123) – “Oh ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers and let them find harshness in you.”

Book of Al-Baqara, verse 191 (2:191) – “Kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from wherever they drove you out.”

Book of Al-Anfal, verse 17 (8:17) – It is not ye who Slew them, but Allah; And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower

There’s more, but I think that makes the point.
Haimerej

Jesus chasing money changers out of the temple =/= Muhammad cutting off people’s heads.

Big difference there.

Koran 2:193- “Fight them on until there is no more tumult and religion becomes that of Allah” =/= Matt. 10:14 “And whoever does not receive you nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.”

Islam says to kill infidels until it rules the world. Christianity says preach the gospel, if it’s not accepted, move on. BIG difference.
Haimerej

I should note that those verses are talking about UNBELIEVERS. So, Averreauxii may try to say that they’re not talking about, “innocent people.” That holds up if you think that unbelievers aren’t innocent, I guess.
Thomas J – Libertarian

Good point Haimerej. Jihadist apologizers, such as Averreauxii, always claim that when murders and attacks are committed in the name if Islam that it is not Islam. Well the reality is, is that it doesn’t matter what is or isn’t..it matters what the jihadists believe.
Nachi

Another great example of our “nation building.”
ChrisVogel

TIME is being disingenuous: this kind of thing will happen both “if”, and “when”, whenever that is. It is inevitable. Despite indulging your fantasies of omnipotence by getting into these wars, you cannot and will not change that much. And, you cannot take everyone who your actions have made likely to be abused, tortured, or murdered when you leave, although you should certainly do your best–it will be tens of thousands at least, and allow them all to immigrate. This is just like Viet Nam (as in all ways; despite the thousands of boat people who made it to America, many more drowned at sea or were robbed and killed by bandits, not to mention the offspring of sex with US servicemen who still suffer discrimination there. And, while we are at it, you could have spent the hundreds of billions of dollars used to blow up people and things in Afganistan and Iraq (and Viet Nam) at home on decent health care and education systems, and relieving your disgracefully high level of poverty.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ovais-Reza/583076095 Ovais Reza

Remember the famous Time’s mag cover of Afghan girls with green eyes, that is when people who are fighting you now were good guys, this was happening then and its happening now. This is hypocrisy. This picture does not represent Afghanistan, nor a picture of Mexican holding cases of beers or fat American chugging down burgers represents reality. America needs a moral justification for its brutal occupation and sadly it resorts to these unsavory tactics to provide it justification.
ortom

ChrisVogel said:
TIME is being disingenuous: this kind of thing will happen both “if”, and “when”, whenever that is. It is inevitable. Despite indulging your fantasies of omnipotence by getting into these wars, you cannot and will not change that much….

Thank you, ChrisVogel. I’m glad there’s someone else here who saw the disingenuousness of the headline, rather than use this as another opportunity to bash Islam.
ortom

Ovais Reza said:
Remember the famous Time’s mag cover of Afghan girls with green eyes, that is when people who are fighting you now were good guys, this was happening then and its happening now. This is hypocrisy. This picture does not represent Afghanistan, nor a picture of Mexican holding cases of beers or fat American chugging down burgers represents reality. America needs a moral justification for its brutal occupation and sadly it resorts to these unsavory tactics to provide it justification.

I think it was National Geographic, actually, This picture was undoubtedly meant to evoke the imagery of the photo you refer to, though.

I think you are absolutely correct in your perception of the new photo’s use as a type of “moral justification”.
SoCalGal1

Thomas J – Libertarian said:
This is truly sad. Women in many of these extreme Islamic countries live as second class citizens, not much different than how blacks were treated during apartheid in South Africa. Yet the west sees no real problem with this.

No, they are treated with less respect than cattle. Where is the National Organization for Women? Those shrill feminazis who are nothing but a Political action group for the Obamao brand.

And white men right here in America, in the other ridiculous religious cults – namely those Mormon F pedophiles who need to marry children in order to be in control. Anywhere religious cults are found, and they’re all cults, oppression of women is found. From any number of Christian cults to the pigs of Islam

That should not be allowed to exist.
SoCalGal1

SoCalGal1 said:

ok well that Quote thing didn’t work as planned. Sorry Thomas.
Thomas said:
“This is truly sad. Women in many of these extreme Islamic countries live as second class citizens, not much different than how blacks were treated during apartheid in South Africa. Yet the west sees no real problem with this. ”

And I said the rest.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alfred-J-Lemire/100000045361210 Alfred J. Lemire

Does the TIME article raise the question of whether Western medicine can provide a prosthesis for the young woman? Who would do the work, where? Who would pay for the restoration? What will be required to maintain the nose over the years? And her missing ears, hidden in the photo?

TIME, the Associated Press, like the New York Times, and so much else in the One-Party Mass Media, is in the propaganda business, by and for the left in government, politics, and the culture. One can wonder why it apparently chose to emphasize what Taliban government means to the people of Afghanistan. But that seems a fruitless exercise.

As to ChrisVogel’s point, it’s true that the USA cannot fight every fight or fix every perceived injustice in the world. Money spent on bombs is money not spent on bassinets. (One assumes that taxes finance, or ought to finance, Department of Defense spending, and money not sucked from people in taxes is money that can be used to provide jobs and to provide for the children of the citizens.)

But does the United States choose to stand aside when genocide happens, as it did, most notably, in Europe, i Turkey, and in Burundi? (And remember that the Clinton Administration did nothing while hundreds of thousands were murdered.) Or ignore a dictator who murdered hundreds of thousands of his fellow citizens in Iraq? Or do nothing while a government hosts training camps for mujahideen to murder “unbelievers” in the world?

People articulated similar views to ChrisVogel in the years prior to World War II. Should the United States have shrunk from war in Europe? I don’t think so. What does ChrsVogel think?
ortom

I’m not sure what ChrisVogel thinks, but I can tell you what *I* think of the above claptrap of yours, Lemire. I think it’s pathetic BS. The same old twaddle attempting to justify the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. And AS IF the “one-party mass media” is by and for the left. That doesn’t even make sense. The problem is that the US is so far to the right that equal rights for all is seen as leftist when it SHOULD be dead center.

And give me a break with the “government hosts training camps to murder unbelievers in the world” – that’s EXACTLY what the US does. The war it wages is against the “unbelievers” in its twisted jihad of corporate oligarchy touted as “capitalism”.
Thomas J – Libertarian

SoGalGirl said:

“No, they are treated with less respect than cattle. Where is the National Organization for Women? Those shrill feminazis who are nothing but a Political action group for the Obamao brand.

And white men right here in America, in the other ridiculous religious cults – namely those Mormon F pedophiles who need to marry children in order to be in control. Anywhere religious cults are found, and they’re all cults, oppression of women is found. From any number of Christian cults to the pigs of Islam

That should not be allowed to exist.”

Her in the USA they go after those people that marry children. IT’S ILLEGAL here, and the charges are pursued. But in Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan, for example, they have no rights, they are killed for looking at a man.
writer

Whew! That was close. Thanks, ortom. I was afraid the comments section was going to go by without a left winger painting a moral equivalency between the Taliban and the U.S.
CarmanK

Mankind has used religion to oppress, murder, rape, punish throughout the ages. Which god according to man was not brutal in “man’s interpretation”: the god of jews condemned a people to wander the earth forever, for a single act of disobedience, or is it the god of christianity who demanded the torture and death of His child in order to satisfy his ego for the sin of disobedience of two humans, Or is it the god who demands the public lashing of a 15 year old child, 8 months pregnant while her rapist goes free? Mankind has used “religion” to gain power and wealth throughout the ages. The crusades, Spanish inquisition, the halocaust, and sharia law: all attempts to make a single religion law of the land. Osama bin Laden attacked this nation . He hated “foreigners”, so he labeld them “infidels” and used religion as his excuse for murder.
I think Time did the right thing.!! It is good to remind us in america that the founding fathers were very clear about the need for separation of church and state in the constitution. This cover reenforces that wisdom. Not in this land, will men use radical religious beliefs to enslave others.
ortom

CarmanK said:
….It is good to remind us in america that the founding fathers were very clear about the need for separation of church and state in the constitution. This cover reenforces that wisdom….

Well, the cover only “reenforces that wisdom” only if you choose to completely ignore the headline that accompanies it. And of course, the headline is unfortunately a complete lie.