Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/10/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]George and Barney, An article in the local paper today says the Democrats have reported that their Obama signs have been disappearing overnight after they replace them, even at early voting places. Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Lottermoser" <imagist3 at mac.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 6:18 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] PESO: Do not > > On Oct 16, 2012, at 8:27 PM, Bernard Quinn wrote: > >> 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. > > I certainly understand your sensitivity; Barney. > > Yet here we find ourselves having a reasonable and important conversation > about these matters > because of this one photograph: > > Racism > Documentary work > Edward R. Murrow > "The Harvest of Shame" > Individual concerns > The "Value" of all of the above. > > And that IS the point. Communication. The power of even a single > photograph. and/or a few words. > > (all infinitely more interesting than f:stops and shutter speeds) > > 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 > >