[Leica] Powerful Photograph

[hewthompson at mac.com (Hugh Thompson)]

Tina, yes, indeed ..... and a heartrending story.  Problem is, it is  
not said, but should be said, there are many positive aspects to  
Afghan society.  I have been able to personally observe great respect,  
love, and affection, exhibited in the extended family structure.

I have many Afghan friends and acquaintances here, for whom I have the  
greatest respect, but, of course Kabul is not the whole country.   
Likewise, there is a huge difference in the way people in western  
countries behave, we have seen multiple murderers, torturers, and  
serial rapists, in what are called civilized countries.  We must also  
remember past and recent history of terrible warfare and atrocities,  
in Europe.

I am, in no way, defending what was done to this poor girl, but, this  
example, and the ongoing violence, in general, is part of the growing  
pains of a country moving from a rural, male dominated, and, to our  
minds, ignorant, society, into the 21st Century - the agonies of  
which, are watched over by reporters and photographers aggressively  
looking for news items that will trigger western emotions, and sell  
publications.

I have not been able to do it yet, but I hope, later this year, to  
bring you examples of the more pleasant side of Afghanistan, as Wendy  
and I did recently.  Perhaps, if one of the pictures is good enough,  
it will be found on the front of Time magazine showing the true  
character of the Afghan people, but, of course, that would not be  
sensational.

Hugh


On 5-Aug-10, at 6:27 PM, Tina Manley wrote:

> Time Magazine's cover is a disturbing, powerful photograph:
>
> http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007238,00.html

hewthompson at mac.com
Kabul, Afghanistan