Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/10/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]George, I agree with you. I wish that we could have an honest dialogue in this country about the many and very serious problems we face. It may be possible, but it is something which we never seem to do. The polarization and the rigidity and the what might be described as the "I'm right Jack" attitude that many people have troubles me deeply and causes me a lot of pain. There is no question in my mind that there are documentaries which have lead to major change in the country. Edward R. Murrow's renowned "The Harvest of Shame" comes to mind, for one. I do not question the value of documenting things. But it also comes with a danger. It would please me a great deal if Jim's photo of the bumper sticker started a conversation which lead to progress. But, I have two concerns. The first is that one person's document may also be another person's hate speech. There is the possibility of a slippery slope here which really does concern me. My other concern is this. I probably have a fairly classical and orthodox view of the world. I would like to think that a person sees that bumper sticker, reacts to it, talks about it, and the world becomes an improved and better place. But, I am not sure that it works that way any more. Things are so polarized. I think there is a danger that things like that bumper sticker no longer promote conversation. Rather they serve to reinforce in both the minds of the right and the left that their own views and prejudices are correct and the people who do not agree with them are simply are idiots who do no bathe regularly. I will leave it to better minds than mine to decide if this is true or not. I have two big concerns here. The first is that valuable document or not that bumper sticker may also promote violence and hatred. I am not convinced that its existence will lead to progress. It may simply serve to further polarize us by working to confirm our prejudices. Barney Barney Quinn, WK3Z C: (301) 775-1386 H: (301) 654-0938 On Oct 16, 2012, at 4:10 PM, George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com> wrote: > > On Oct 16, 2012, at 2:26 PM, bjq1 at mac.com wrote: > >> ti is also playing with fire. Ugly can be fanned into very real flames >> all too easily?. > > Or "Ugly can be" left to smolder and stink. > > In either case it needs to be dealt with; exposed to the light of day; > discussed. > > The concept of documentary, journalistic photography > requires, in my opinion, exposure of the good, bad, beautiful and ugly; > and it must be done very well; > with a sincere heart; > and sense of taste; > as was done in this case. > > Regards, > George Lottermoser > george at imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com/blog > http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information