I've been watching a little of ABC's Nightline special, The Fallen, which is still ongoing in the background as I start writing this blog. In yet another controversial move by ABC News (see below for my comments about the 20/20 adoption atrocity), Ted Koppel is reading the names of those US soliders who lost their lives serving in our military in Iraq.

Except, in contrast with the 20/20 show aired two hours ago, I feel that ABC News is doing a good thing here.

There are those who claim that ABC News is simply doing this as a publicity/ratings stunt. I've hyperlinked "The TV Column" from the Washington Post, penned by Lisa de Moraes whom I usually like a lot. She feels that this is simply a gimmick for sweeps, and that it and its accompanying simulcast on the Jumbotron in Times Square is simply a ploy to attract viewers without having to work at all to create content.

Ratings stunt? What could be more boring than this "content?" Is it really in ABC's best interest to air something like this which people could grow tired of quite easily? There's no story to follow here; people could easily switch over to Letterman. (Or Leno, if they like their comedy bland.)

Nightline anchor Ted Koppel responded in a letter to the editor. I really like it a lot, and thus will reprint it here:

The other news about this broadcast is that ABC affiliates in eight markets, owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, aren't showing this episode of Nightline. Sinclair is the largest owner of television stations in the country, and they have mentioned that ABC News is using this to promote a liberal agenda promoting US withdrawal from Iraq.

From the TV Column linked in the last paragraph: "In an interesting standoff, Sinclair yesterday tried to get an interview with Koppel for a program it has produced about its decision to pull 'Nightline.' It plans to air the show on its ABC stations tonight in the 'Nightline' slot. Sinclair was turned down because, ABC News told The TV Column, Koppel would be airing against Koppel."

My take on this is that whichever side you're on -- whether you feel troops should be in Iraq or not, whether you feel this is a valid war or not -- we have soliders there. People who enlisted. And many who died while serving. It's much easier for me to shoot off my mouth (fingers?) in front of a keyboard than those who are on the front lines around the world in conditions far worse than mine. I take this at face value: a tribute to the fallen. This may be a soapbox or a ratings book to some, but I see it as a memorial.

I've been involved in many "name reading" ceremonies, mostly to commemorate and sanctify those who were killed in the Holocaust. I've helped organize 24-hour vigils on three college campuses where names of those who perished were read around the clock. I've been at that podium at 3:45 in the morning sounding out names, some of which are similar to mine.

Each of those names means a family affected. A childhood erased. An education gone. Friends in mourning. One less voice contributing to this world.

The next time you're in DC, take a look at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A granite slab with thousands of names on it. But what become more apparent is that, on the ground under these names, are makeshift tributes, usually to one person on the wall whose name takes up an inch or two. There may be 200 people on one of the panels, but the person who left the wreath or the letter below was focusing on just one of those names.

Names are important.

And what Nightline did tonight was important.