Breanna Mitchell, an 18-year-old from Alabama, went to Poland last month to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp. While on site, Mitchell took and posted a smiling selfie to Twitter. Social media users exploded with insults and even death threats aimed at Mitchell. Mitchell explained that she planned to take the trip with her father, who passed away before they could go. She said her smile and photo are for her father. We asked BYU students what they thought of the photo and the online world’s response.
“I think it’s inappropriate because it’s like posting a selfie at a funeral, which has happened before. Certain places need respect. But people also need to mind their own business. As a rule of thumb she probably shouldn’t post it.” — Zack Adcock, Business, San Clemente, California
“With her reasoning, I feel like that makes sense why she would do it in memory of her father. What do people want her to do? Frown? If you’re going to take a picture and do it in your father’s memory, then it’s appropriate.” — Emma Koford, Elementary education, Mesa, Arizona
“I would say it’s probably at least a little disrespectful, just because of what had happened there. Smiling for her father’s memory is fine, but for all the things that happened there it’s not.” — Conner McCall, pre-music, Idaho Falls, Idaho
“I don’t think it’s a problem because she had a purpose for it. If she didn’t have a purpose for it then it wouldn’t be OK.” — DeeDee Smith, Open major, Rexburg, Idaho
“In context it’s appropriate because she’s probably thinking of her dad. Out of context, people probably think she’s mocking what happened. It’s all about the context.” — Lexi Foster, English language, Redding, California
