I was getting money for showing one man killing another…
“I was getting money for showing one man killing another. Two lives were destroyed and I was getting paid for it. (On his 1968 photograph of the summary street corner execution of prisoner Nguyen Van Lem by South Vietnam's police chief, Lt. Col. Nguyen Ngoc Loan.)”
About This Quote
Source Photograph: Saigon Execution, 1968, by Eddie Adams
The photographer captured a brutal execution, highlighting the paradox of profiting from violence and the loss of humanity.
In simple terms: A photographer took money for a violent scene, showing moral conflict.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the cost of exploiting tragedy.
Themes
ethics
war
media
humanity
morality
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
journalistic
ethical
When to use this quote
- newsrooms
- documentary projects
- educational discussions
- media ethics courses
Key Concepts
photojournalism
moral paradox
spectatorship
Questions to Reflect On
- How does witnessing violence affect our values?
- Can profit ever justify exposing cruelty?
A Different Perspective
Profit from violence can desensitize and obscure accountability.