[Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland Security

[dpost at triad.rr.com (Dan Post)]

Frank-
I worked in the police department here for 22years, and I can tell you that
Police Officers are a cross section of the population.... They literally
fall on all points of the Bell curve.
If you can picture the character Patrick Star from the 'Spongebob
Squarepants' cartoon (Hey! I got a 3 year old grand-daughter! I'm allowed to
watch!), dress in a police officer's uniform, and going about armed, you get
the picture- and you don't need a Leica to see it!
That's why 80+ year old retired generals, carrying their Congressional Medal
of Honor in their pocket, are subjected to nearly having cavity searches
perform upon them, but middle eastern men between the ages of 19 and 35 are
not checked because that would seem like 'profiling'!
The story of the cancer patient who was wheelchair bound, weighed about 85
pounds, and was refused being allowed to board an airliner to go home
presumably to die, because the person no longer looked like their photo- ID;
There is a real lack of what my mother use to call Good Common Sense. You
are right, the spy will not use a 4X5 or 8X10 to take surreptitious photos.
That's why when I photograph sensitive things, I use the Minox and security
thinks nothing about it!
Best of light to you,
Dan


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Filippone" <red735i@earthlink.net>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 2:29 PM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland Security


> Even funny is the statement by the local Lock authorities, that welcomes
> photos.  Seems like A does not talk to B.
>
> I think this kind of miscommunication is the basic problem, when coupled
> with enforcers that are not picked for their negotiating skills.  You (
the
> public) get oppositional directed orders from enforcers that threaten you
> with either a gun or a badge or both.  Disobey the badge ( even though the
> order is not in compliance with the law) and you get to go to jail for
> disobeying a Police officer.....  They got you.
>
> I believe BD is most right... act in a way that makes "The Man" nervous,
and
> you will attract officious  trouble.
>
> BTW, there was a Graduate student that had permission to photograph a
power
> plant form the manager of the plant.  Her work was done on an 8x10 camera.
> One evening, the cops saw what she was doing and demanded her to stop.  (
> She was on a public road, photographing from the safety of the nearby
public
> field, , legally parked, etc.)  She complied when they told her to go.
She
> was threatened to go to jail for actions that were suspicious.  Can you
> imagine any rational cop ( operative word is rational) that would think an
> 8x10 camera, on a tripod, with all the paraphernalia, photographing a
power
> plant,  is a suspicious act?   The power plant has been there since the
70's
> ( probably there in the 30's, but I am not sure).  Photographed
extensively
> for its fine art promise.  If you were going to get a picture of something
> for nefarious reasons, wouldn't you just go to the WEB files and get a
> picture from some other photographer?  Would you use an 8x10 monster?
Would
> you OWN an 8x10 monster if you were a nefarious type?
>
> Not racial, but ignorant profiling, officious stupidity, power to force
> people to do what you want them to do,  and paranoia.
>
> Remember to not bring those dangerous nail clippers in your pocket for
your
> next flight.....
>
> Frank Filippone
> red735i@earthlink.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information