Vintage Views – A Photographer’s Distraction
“We are here to love. Everything else is distraction.”
Scott Stabile
This week’s Photo Challenge invites us to share that which distracts us – and it comes during a week when distraction is a welcome relief from the onslaught of horrific news items. First there was Charlottesville, VA and shortly thereafter Barcelona. We find ourselves wondering when and how it will all end.
“Distraction is a killer of dreams, visions and goals”
Topsy Gift
Following these tragic events there have been many, and varied, responses. One I found very interesting was an essay comparing the number of white supremacists who responded to the call for a “massive gathering” (estimated at a few hundred people,) versus the millions of the rest of us who find them repulsive. Another observation was made by none other than the great philosopher Tina Fey 😊. She reminds us that the White Supremacists’ call to return our country to those who originally owned it forgets that it was we who actually stole it from its original inhabitants, the Native Americans.
“Listen to your inner voice and never let the distraction of the crowd discolor your poise.”
Israelmore Ayivor
Let’s talk for a moment about the Anti-Semitic Nazi-flag bearers. It is of course their right to hate and disparage Jews. Should they decide to go that route, we must remind them they should be denied access to any of the contributions Jews have made to our lives. No cure for polio or syphilis, no cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker, none of the music of Irving Berlin or Bob Dylan, none of the humor of Jerry Seinfeld or the Marx Brothers, no levis (or their successors, blue jeans), no sewing machines, and none of the contributions of Albert Einstein – just to name a few simple things. And by the way, many notable historians speculate that Columbus was actually a Jew whose voyage was funded by Jews so I suppose they’d have to give up America as well – just sayin’.
“Eliminate all distractions and focus on things that add value to your life”
Sunday Adelaja
Yet another response to this week’s events is a renewed focus on Free Speech. Here in the US it has always been a fundamental principal that anyone is allowed to express any opinion, no matter how hateful. Questions have been raised about the rights of businesses to fire exposed haters or the rights of social media platforms to disallow their use for spreading venom. Today’s editorial in our local paper explores the right to free speech versus speech designed to incite violence. Difficult to distinguish, but an interesting differentiation deserving of further thought.
“One man’s distraction is another man’s refuge.”
Khang Kijarro Nguyen
As I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’m responding to Andrea’s challenge with some of my favorite distractions – scenes of “vintage” decaying places and things. One might assume I’m suggesting that bygone days were less troubled, more peaceful. I would disagree whole-heartedly. Previous generations had turmoil every bit as disruptive as ours today. One need only think of the wars over the centuries to know that racial divide, religious differences and nationalist fevers have sadly always been a part of our existence.
“Don’t let the noise around you distract you from listening to the voice within you.”
Farshad Asi
So as Mr. Asi suggests, let us tune out the noise of those who would divide us, and listen to the voice inside, which reminds us that no one person, place or belief is better than any other. Let us stand together to denounce hatred and bigotry in all of its forms.
Wishing you peace and a world without fear – see you next week.
Interesting and thoughtful post!
Thanks very much Syam
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Reblogged this on Wanderlust and Wonderment and commented:
My second reblog of the day. Tina addresses so well the issues of racism and hatred so pervasive nowadays, and especially the last few weeks.
Thanks so much for the reblog and the lovely comment. Both are much appreciated.
Beautiful post, Tina!
A thoughtful and sensitive post and beautiful pictures too. Thank you.
Many thanks Dahlia
Lovely response to the challenge and recent events!
Thanks PJB, much appreciated.
Tina, I like the feel of your photos in this post. A lot!
Thanks very much Ruth. Felt like the subject deserved a bit more serious approach than usual.
Yours is a thoughtful post this week. The hate and vitriol show no signs of letting up.
Thanks John – sadly, the misery in Houston and its surrounds has at least taken the emphasis away from our internal struggles. Appreciate your stopping by
We were indeed “thinking along the same lines” Tina. Your words resonate and your images captivate. We live in troubled times, but that’s nothing new for our world as history tells us. We have to make our voices heard and, who knows, maybe in some small way we can make a difference. Thanks for your words of reason and support always.
And thank you back for your thoughtful comment. I remain convinced there are more of “us” than many would think
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Well said T. I am with you on this . Very sad week and hard times ahead.
Thanks Gin – could easily have guessed that!
Thank you for this post, Tina. Sometimes there is no alternative but to speak up. Now there has been a frightful terror attack in Åbo, Finland as well. This week was truly a black week. We must stand united together and do whatever we can to fight evil. You did a great job here. Let us hope for a better, new week and many good thoughts to flow.
Amen Leya, we are together on that!
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A few days ago, I read about if we ignore the raised voices and the punditry, perhaps the hateful stuff will go away since that group will be preaching to themselves. I can see that point. But, I can see your point – there are moments where a stand needs to be taken. When those that carried their torches through UVA in Charlottesville, they supposed their unimpeded path reflected a tacit approval of their point of view. My reaction was that they brought a ghost from the past back – the Nazis of 1930s Germany. What’s amusing is their use of Tiki torches, borrowed from another ethnic group.
Unfortunately, the raised voices will not settle until we have a better handle of the political polarization. The founders all believed in the common good, the middle ground. That’s our destination.
O/T: Are you ready for the eclipse??? Enjoy the 99.8% on Kiawah. 🙂
Thanks for the thoughtful comment David, we are of the same mind. As for the much anticipated eclipse, we will be with friends about 15 miles away because they have totality. I saw an astrophysicist on tv who has traveled the world to see them. He said in a scale of 1-10, a partial eclipse is an 8. A total eclipse is a million!! Count me in for that and say a small prayer for clear skies😊😊 Sent from my iPhone
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I think there is more of a meeting of the minds than we are led to believe. You and I probably can solve the nation’s ills in a matter of a couple of hours. 🙂
Agreed, a total is the cat’s meow.
How did the eclipse viewing go? I caught the portion of Charleston going dark on tv, with a flash of lightning in the background. Our 89% was like almost twilight at noontime. The forgotten thing about the way to maximum was the bugs becoming more active. I’ve been around enough biting flies that hang with horses, but this had to be worse. We had to change into barn gear. 🙂
Spotty because of cloud cover but at the ultimate moment he clouds broke to give us maybe 10 seconds of the glorious full eclipse and the promised “diamond ring”. Incredible, awesome, amazing 😊
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Great post Tina!!!
Thanks so much Paulo – glad this one struck a chord.
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Wonderful images, Tina and some very on-point, well thought out commentary. Great post!
Thanks very much Julieallyn
Great post, but I’m struggling to find the right words to respond because I can’t believe we’ve taken such a step back in our ability to accept all people. I believe in free speech except when it crosses over into hate and violence which results in a family losing a loved one. It was very interesting to see the response in Boston yesterday. We certainly find ourselves in a place as a nation that I’m pretty sure most of us hope we find a way out of. Prayers for peace.
Saw the reports re Boston Judy – looks like the original demonstrators left with their tails between their legs. Sad that we need to have demonstrations and anti-demonstrations about things like this after we’ve come so far – or perhaps, sadly, we haven’t. Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughtful comment.
Sad indeed to hear what is happening around the world. Hopefully one day there will be more opportunity and fairer place for all. ‘it has always been a fundamental principal that anyone is allowed to express any opinion, no matter how hateful.’ It is interesting how some are so enthusiastic saying anything that they want even at the expense of someone else in the States. In Australia we have the Racial Discrimination Act. It hasn’t stopped Australians from discriminating against each other, but it’s a step in the right direction. Wishing you peace ahead for the week 🙂 ❤
Thanks Mabel – we have similar laws but somehow the haters remain. I suppose it’s always been so and good people simply must continue to fight for what’s right.
A very powerful post Tina.
Thanks very much Rupali
There are enough problems to solve in our daily lives, just living and loving, Tina. I don’t understand those who use their energy to fuel hate and evil.
I agree wholeheartedly Jo, hopefully it will all resolve positively and soon. The response has been nearly universal in condemning the hating and perhaps a renewed focus on eliminating such evil will be a welcome result
Great blog, thank you for your work.
Thanks very much TVM, nice to see some many positiive responses after a difficult week.
Thoughtful and brave post, Tina. Thanks.
Thanks Jane. A difficult week for thoughtful people.
Brava! A lovely post.
Many thanks Marie
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Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful post in images and words, just brilliant.
And thank you for your kind and generous comment
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Good, timely post Tina.
Thanks Maverick
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WOW!!! What a heartfelt piece Tina….U GO GIRL!!! I am blown away….your words are gorgeous/so meaningful-thoughtful…your photos PERFECT…..THANK YOU!!!😜👍
Thanks April. I try to be apolitical in my blog but felt this week called for something different. Glad you could relate.
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You should get a job as editor in some news magazine or newspaper! Very impressive journalisim.
I,m still inn md. Willl be back n naplles on laborday wkend
Love cuzzin leatrice
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Thanks cuzzin–as always great to hear from you!
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A truly Beautiful and thoughtful post, Tina … and the images are truly delicate. I couldn’t enter this week, because I lost my mojo … first over Charlotteville .. then Barcelona and that – I was totally distracted by it. But it is a part of our lives now and was you wrote we have to listen to the voice inside us .. and not the noice that screaming at us.
Viveka – thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. It was a very difficult week for any sane person. We can only hope that in the end we will come through stronger. >
Tina, I think that “normal” people will get stronger … but I also think that the “bad guys” will get stronger too. It’s like we are all on a dead end street. So sad.
You said so many things that need to be said…in a very thoughtful way…
Many thanks Laurel. Felt better afterwards 🙂 >
What a very profound and thought provoking response to the theme. So apt for these frightening times we live in. Love and peace is the only way to go.
What a beautiful post. I can breath out and rest now after a challenging week. Thankyou.
So happy to have added a bit of peace to your world PS, thanks for stopping by
Stunning visuals!
Thanks very much Suj
A most honorable post…introspective and sensitive … most interesting photos
Thanks Miss LInda – I though the week merited a slightly different approach.
Well said Tina. We certainly need some distractions at the moment. Love the processing on your decaying photos, all wonderfully selected and composed as usual. Have a good weekend.
Many thanks Jude – and a happy weekend to you too. Let’s hope it’s a quiet one!
Thoughtful blog. Very deep and timely. Proud to share life with you.
🙂 And I with you.
Hi Tina this is certainly a thought provoking essay. Being in South Africa all of this is certainly actual. INeslon Mandela taught Sout Africans not to look at color off course there were radical right handers and left handers who dismissed him. What made him genuine and believable was his humility (the one term African president which simple doesn’t happen in Africa). Unfortunately the current leader(s) is not of his stature which makes it diffycult to proceed with what Mandela came to do. But that is no excuse to be racist as that depends on you own values not what other individual of any color may transgress at.
Very true Abrie. I remember so well our visit to Robbins Island and our conversations with the guards/former prisoners. I also remember some of the truly frightening photos of the horrors toward the end of apartheid. Yours is such a beautiful county and yet there has been so much suffering over the years. As for the politicians, don’t get me started!!!
Well said. Thoughtful and thought-provoking.
Thanks John. I try to avoid commentary on current events but sometimes you just feel like you have to speak up.
This is definitely one of those times. ‘They’ are trying the patience of the most stoic amongst us.
Great message! Thank you, Tina. Would you let me re-blog?
Thanks very much Amy – would love a re-blog, much appreciated! >
Thank you so much, Tina! Will re-blog tomorrow.
Thoughtful post. I agree with you concerning the Jewish contribution to Western civilization. Free speech is important in a democratic and ‘free’ society. However there is a problem with allowing hatred free speech, it escalates into something more, that something more is, tragically, violence and war, as in World War II, for example, wherein 6 million Jews were killed in the Shoah.
Thank you DL. Appreciate your thoughtful comment. The issue to me on shutting down hate-speech is that it would be so easy to abuse such a power – much as the Nazis themselves did while shutting down any opposition to them and to their programs. It would be awful if the haters could push us far enough that we would need to limit our basic freedoms
This kind of distraction reading your post I gladly enjoy, Tina. Vintage, eh. Must learn how to do this. The first quote is true.
Thanks so much Perpetua! Appreciate your visit and kind comment
I love the processing Tina. Very nice indeed! 🙂
Thanks Adrian, seemed the right approach for a difficult week.
Tina, enjoyed your thoughts and images, especially the ambience created by the monochromatic effects. They mirror the feelings that have emerged this week. We must cling to hope.
Thanks very much Sally – hope as always springs eternal – count me in on that.
Thoughtful comments and beautiful photos; what a great post.
Thanks very much Carto
A fabulous selection of your decaying distract ions, Tina, and a well-penned post….
Thanks Sue – must admit this one was too close to home to pass without comment.
And you made fair comment….
Wonderful. I like the sepia toning.
Thanks Rabirius
The photos are captivating and your post is an important statement. Thanks Tina!
Thanks so much KP – and welcome back – just in time for our big moment next week!
Love helps. And actions through love can heal. Beautiful take on the challenge, Tina. Soothing words in worrying times.
Thanks Dina, yes worrying times indeed.
Beautiful photos. Especially liked the timeless feel of the Angkor Wat photo.
Thanks Jane – I enjoyed working with this week’s images.
Beautiful post, Tina.
Thanks Sharon – much appreciated.
World peace, or the World in pieces.
I like your post this week, Tina. Your commentary and images go hand-in-hand seamlessly.
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… World peace, or the World in pieces. … 👍🏻
Quite….
Thanks so much Allan – and I like your opening sentence – thanks for that as well 🙂 Spent time in your world this summer and was amazed and fortunate to catch the whales visiting the bay at the bridge. Wow
The whales are truly amazing creatures.
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