I was impressed that the Collegian printed two articles concerning the "embedded" and constant news coverage of the war ("Professors disagree over value of 24-hour 'embedded' news," "Some students prefer increased war coverage, others change channel," March 25).

I think it is important that people are aware of what they are watching. I fear that the constant news coverage is trivializing the war. If people are seeing constant replay of bombing, they can become desensitized to the violence they are witnessing. It's the argument of graphic violence on television and in movies; the more you see it, the more you become used to it and accept it.

The footage we see of bombs falling does not do justice to the destruction a bomb causes. From the distance at which we see the air raids, the bombs look and sound almost like fireworks. I am afraid people forget that people get hurt and die when a bomb explodes.

The news commentary also contributes to the sensationalism of the war. When watching bombs fall on Baghdad, CNN's Wolf Blitzer made the comment, "Let's stop and listen to this one." His comment reminded me of sports commentary. A bomb is falling on a city of people, it is not like a baseball falling into a glove.

When I hear friends say, "Let's go watch the war" in a tone of which they could have said, "Let's watch Joe Millionaire," I cringe. I hope people know what they are watching is real. People should be "shocked" and "awed" -- they are watching people die.